Elizabeth Ann Godwin

Elizabeth Ann “Libby” Godwin of Decatur, Michigan passed away on July 7, 2020 after a battle with cancer. Libby was born on August 27, 1951 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to Lawrence and Mary Kay Rowe. She graduated from Central High School in LaCrosse in 1969 and earned a Bachelors degree in Communications from the University of Missouri (Columbia) in 1973, a Masters in Communication Disorders from the University of Wisconsin (Eau Claire) in 1975 and a Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in 1990. Libby served as an administrator in Palmyra, Wisconsin; Athens, Georgia; and Belding, Michigan before becoming Superintendent of Schools in Decatur, Michigan where she served from 2001 to 2014. Throughout her career Libby enjoyed working with developmentally disabled children and adults. Libby is survived by her husband Joseph Godwin whom she married on December 29, 1975 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and by her sons Justin (Decatur) and Joel (Auckland, New Zealand) and her sister Kathie Wachholder (Gilberts, Illinois). She is also survived by grandsons Damon (Alexandria, Virginia), Zak and Ryan (Auckland, New Zealand); nephews Ben Scheie (Chicago), Brent Wachholder (Novia) (Chicago) and Kurt Wachholder (Kristin) (Bend, Or.). Surviving in-laws include Becky Kinder (Decatur), Judi Johnson (St. Louis), Bill Godwin (St. Louis), Sam Godwin (Leta) (Jackson, Mo.), Pam Bond (Jay) (Pensacola, Fl.), Jane Leyva (Pensacola), James Godwin (Houston, Tx.), Jean Butterworth (Tom) (Dora, Mo.) and numerous other nieces and nephews whom she always took great pleasure from. Libby enjoyed traveling, scuba diving in Mexico, boating around the lake on her pontoon, cooking for family and friends, driving her pickup truck, and visiting with others. She also enjoyed hosting foreign-exchange students such as Silvia and Ana Picallo from LaCoruna, Spain and continued to enjoy many phone calls and visits with them and their family. Libby was active on the Van Buren County Library Board, the Decatur Optimist Club, the Study Club and enjoyed reading student essays for VFW awards. A small family gathering is planned for services at the Newell chapel of Starks Family Funeral Homes in Decatur and a celebration of life will be planned later when the virus permits a larger gathering. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Decatur Human Services, 102 S Phelps St, Decatur, MI 49045 is suggested. Those who would like to leave a condolence for the family may do so at www.newellchapel.com.