George Carlton Godfrey

October 3, 1930 - January 30, 2024

George Carlton Godfrey “Buck”, passed away peacefully at home in San Francisco, surrounded by family at the age of 93. Beloved husband of the late Joan Godfrey. Loving father of John (deceased), George Jr., Dan (Carla), Mary, Theresa (Barrydeceased), Michael (Ginny). Caring grandfather of seven, Stephanie, Victor, Rachel, Dan Jr., Matt, Ben and Sophia. Great-grandfather of four, Gram, Kiernan, Brooke and Raegan. Born in New Hope, N.C., on October 3, 1930, raised on a farm, he was eighth of 11 children, predeceased by Lucille, JT, Braxton, Norman, Calvin, Ray, James and Hazel. Survived by sisters, Abe and Sophia.

He was drafted in 1950 to the US Army and was transferred to San Francisco where he met Joan Murphy at a USO dance at the Beach Chalet. They married in 1951, raising their six children in the Parkside. He worked for DPW as a plumber (Local 38) for 35 years, retiring in 1990.

George was a devoted father and caregiver for his son, Georgie, and his grandson, Victor. Rest In Peace, you will be greatly missed.

Services are at St. Cecilia’s Church, 2555 17th Avenue, San Francisco, on Saturday, February 17. Visitation at 10:30 a.m., Rosary at 11:00 a.m., and Mass at 11:30 a.m. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma. Donations may be made to: The Janet Pomeroy Center, 207 Skyline Blvd., San Francisco, Calif. 94132.

NEW YORK — Bob Beckwith, a retired firefighter whose chance encounter with the president amid the rubble of ground zero became part of an iconic image of American unity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has died. He was 91.

Beckwith died Sunday night in hospice care after dealing with cancer in recent years, his wife, Barbara Beckwith, said Monday.

Wearing his old firefighter helmet from Ladder Company 164 in Queens, the Long Island resident stood with President George W. Bush as he delivered a rousing speech to weary responders days after hijackers crashed airplanes into the twin towers of the old World Trade Center, killing 2,753 people.

“He was just lucky. He was at the right place, at the right time, and that’s why he’s famous,” Barbara Beckwith said Monday by phone from the couple’s home in Baldwin, a suburb about 30 miles from Manhattan. “But he was a regular guy. Well-liked and quiet. Just a regular Joe.”

Beckwith was 69 years old and retired for seven