Randall A. Godwin, Nomad Village developer
Randall Alvin Godwin, 89, of Lewes and Fort Lauderdale, Fla, died January, 13, 2015, at Manor Pines Convalescent Center in Wilton Manors Fla.
He was born Dec. 10, 1925, in Roxana. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Alvin Godwin Jr. and Lavinia Bunting Godwin of Roxana; grandparents Annie and Harry Godwin Sr.; brother Gene Elroy Godwin; brother-in-law Wilson Hickman; twin daughters who passed in 1950; and a son, Lyle Alvin Godwin of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in 1977.
Randall attended school in Roxanna and Selbyville. He was valedictorian of the class of 1943. Hee served in the U.S.Army in World War II. Returning home, he invested his Soldier’s Savings dollars in poultry. His range-fed hens were outside when a nor’easter drowned them all. Next the family bought timber and operated a saw mill that gradually evolved into a building supply business H. A. Godwin Jr & Sons. Randall was interested in designing homes, especially at the beach. He created many unusual designs from Ocean City, Md. through Lewes, and had pictures in the Washington Post of them.
Married Oct. 22, 1949, to Betty Jean Dukes, they owned and operated the building supply and contracting business. In 1960 they purchased land in Tower Shores, north of Bethany Beach, to build Nomad Village: 12 A-frame cottages, seven apartments, two bars, package store and Granny’s Pantry, a tiny convenience store serving Tower Shores and surrounding area with just about everything needed by the vacationers. In spite of floods, fires and difficult neighbors, the Godwins persevered for 40 years, retiring in 2000. On Oct .22, 2014, they celebrated 65 years of marriage.
Randall is survived by his wife Betty Jean Dukes Godwin; daughter, Amanda Marie and her husband Ronald Stechert of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; a son, Martin Bay Godwin; grandchildren Miles Alvin and Maile Bay Godwin of Rehoboth; a dear friend, Joe D. Pozos of Lewes and Ft. Lauderdale; sister Elizabeth Ann Hickman; niece Durene and her husband,Terry Gilbert and their daughter,Tyler all of Crawfordville, Fla.; bBrother’s children: Donna Kay and husband Pete Lovelette, Richard Godwin and Debbie Godwin.
His love of Delaware, Sussex Country in particular, remained strong all his life. He would annually spend his summers in the Rehoboth/Lewes area. In accordance with his wishes, no funeral services were held. His remains will be interred in Roxanna in the Lynch plot of his wife’s family, along with their deceased children.
