JONATHAN “JON” HENRY GODSHALL
1948-2022
Jonathan “Jon” Henry Godshall, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on January 7, 2022 at the age of 73.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Nancy Hull Godshall, their three daughters and their husbands, Courtenay Elizabeth Godshall, Josie and Phil Morgan, Cary and Andrew Pratka, and his two precious grandsons, Davis and Grant Morgan. He is also survived by his two sisters, Jamie Gerry and husband David of Seattle, WA, Joan Dudley of Bellingham, WA, and 11 nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his parents, Mary Elizabeth and Henry Stites Godshall, Jr. of St. Simons Island, GA and parents-in-law, Leila and Dr. John Hull of Houston.
Born on June 9, 1948 in Philadelphia, PA, Jon and his family moved six times across the United States with Scott Paper Corporation before being transferred to Mexico City when he was 12 years old.
Jon returned to the United States in 1962 to attend and graduate from The Hill School in Pottstown, PA, where he was president of the Fifth Form (Junior) class. He was honored to be selected as a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, served as president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, and achieved scholastic distinction as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Following their marriage in 1971, Jon and Nancy moved to Cambridge, MA, where Jon graduated with an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1973. Jon joined Anderson Clayton and was chosen to participate in their first Executive Training Program in which he held corporate leadership positions in Mexico City, Phoenix, Vicksburg, Lubbock, and Dallas.
In 1986, at the age of 38, Jon was selected as President and CEO of Anderson Clayton’s acquisition, Igloo Products Corp. in Houston, where he led for 15 years. Deep friendships formed when leading a team of creative talent in developing new and innovative products. In honor of his leadership, when the Igloo headquarters moved from Houston to Katy, the entry street was named “Godshall Way”.
He was a senior member of the Houston Country Club and a member of Allegro.
Jon’s outdoor interests centered around family. Early days were spent hiking the Appalachian Trail, golf, tennis, snow skiing, boating, and teaching generations to water ski, always with the everpresent Igloo and Ray-Ban sunglasses.
A supportive husband, Jon built miles of picket fence to surround the Garden Club of Houston Bulb Mart, and constructed containers for flower shows. As a father and grandfather, he tried to attend every sports game no matter how small, always with his trusty Nikon camera in hand.
Jon will be remembered for his faith and humility, wonderful sense of humor, quick smile, dedication to his family and friends, and a genuine selflessness that endeared him to all.
A memorial service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 21st of January, at the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where the Rev.
Dr. Douglas Richnow is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family in the adjacent Sumners Hall.
Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private inurnment at Glenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude, that contributions in Jon’s honor be directed to the Houston Area Parkinson Society, 2700 Southwest Fwy, Suite 300, Houston, TX, 77098; or to the charity of one’s choice.