Winfred Rawdon Goddard, Jr., 90, was born in Riverside, Calif., to Winfred R. Goddard and Ethel Melrose Libis Goddard. Our incredibly kind and intelligent “Win” died early Thursday, April 12, in San Diego, of congestive heart failure.
He was raised in Hollywood, where he progressed rapidly through school, skipping a number of grades. After graduation from Hollywood’s John Marshall High School in 1933, he went on to college at Caltech and then transferred to Stanford, where he graduated early in 1937 with a chemistry degree at the age of 19.
He promptly got a job with General Petroleum Corporation in Los Angeles, but lost it when they realized he was too young to legally sign the certificates for his chemical reports.
Win had an early interest in amateur radio, obtaining his license while in high school. He was known for many years to ham radio operators as W6RCD. As a young sheriff reserve deputy, he helped set up the radio network for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
When World War II came along, Mr. Goddard was promptly commissioned as an ensign, and because of his electronics background, he began working with the then-highly classified radar systems..
He attended Bowdoin College for one day, passing both the entrance exam and final exams on the same day.
He was recruited as an instructor at MIT, but instead chose to go to the fleet, working on installing radar systems on ships at Mare Island Navy Shipyard, later landing in San Diego. The Navy soon discovered they had no one to operate these new devices they were installing. Goddard then was assigned to start the Navy Radar School at the Naval Radio Station atop Point Loma, where he taught the officers and enlisted men for most of the war. He retired in 1972 as head of the Engineering Department, Navy Training Devices Center, Regional Office, San Diego.
A Point Loma resident since 1943, Win resided at the home he and his wife built high on Point Loma in 1950, on a lot selected as a prime radio-reception spot. He was an active PTA father, always willing to serve the school, helping to build a classroom facility and other Halloween construction projects at Cabrillo School during the 13 years his four children attended. He particularly enjoyed helping with annual carnivals.
He supported the Scouting program, stepping forward to establish Pack 500 when the Boy Scouts needed a second Cub Scout Pack in Pt. Loma, and supported his daughters in their Girl Scout activities. That first group of Cub Scouts then evolved into Boy Scout Troop 500.
Mr. Goddard is survived by his wife, Edwina; and four children, Boyd Goddard (Debbie), Alan Goddard (Ann Matchinske), and Ellen Ewing (Bill), all of San Diego, and Patricia Moore of Rogue River, Oregon. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Travis Moore, Derek Moore, Joseph Moore, Edward Goddard, Thomas Goddard (Katie), Leslie Crews, Carolynn Crews, and Geoffrey Crews.
Private family services were held Monday, April 16. Donations may be made in his name to a charity of your choice.