James Lee Godwin, 94, lived a life filled with family, laughter, hard work and a remarkable inability to retire. Born and raised on the family farm in McClain County, James graduated from Dibble High School in 1950. After graduation he commuted back and forth to Ada, where he worked for a bridge and road construction company.
On one of the trips home, he dropped by The Custard Cup in Lindsay and to his delight there was Ermalene Henry, the prettiest girl he had ever seen, working behind the counter. She earned $0.25 an hour and stubbornly refused to give him a free $0.05 ice cream no matter how many times he asked. Ever persistent, James kept coming back and although he never got the free ice cream, he did get the girl.
Drafted into the army during the Korean War in January of 1953, James married Ermalene that June while home on leave. Together they built a beautiful life and raised five children: Pamela Dawn, Laura Beth, Terry Lee, Angela Kay, and Gregory Brent.
James took a job with Oklahoma City Public Works Department in 1956 and although working full-time and raising a family, James spent weekends farming alongside his father and brother. One summer he even tried to corner the Okra market, to the dismay of his children who were recruited to harvest the prickly crop.
During this time, James, his brother Robert Godwin, and brother-in-law, Ernie Graham, established Three G Land and Cattle Company. When James began working for Oklahoma City Public Works Department, he intended to stay just long enough to get through the winter; thirty-one years later (1987) he finally retired.
Retirement, however, was never James’s strong suit. After returning to the family farm, he managed 1,200 acres and 200 head of cattle. He also served eleven years on the Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, retiring again in 2003. Still unconvinced retirement was for him, he continued raising cattle until 2020, finally hanging up his cowboy hat at age 88.
James loved coaching little league, supporting the marching band, square dancing with Ermalene, raising bird dogs, camping, boating, fishing, stringing trout-lines and enjoying time with family and friends. As a lifelong farmer, devoted husband, proud father, and notorious jokester, James believed in appreciating life’s simple pleasures. He took special joy in watching his grandchildren play on the same land where he grew up.
In 2021, James jokingly wrote that his next venture might be to corner the tomato market. Since James never quite mastered retirement, in 2026 he was still tending 60 tomato plants. Apparently, some habits were harder to retire than others.
Of all the adventures, accomplishments, and simple pleasures James enjoyed throughout his 94 years, he always said his greatest blessing was that chance meeting with Ermalene at The Custard Cup. He never got that free ice cream, but he got something far sweeter. A beautiful life with the girl who stole his heart, they celebrated 71 wedding anniversaries before Ermalene’s passing.
Wife, preceded in death: Ermalene Henry Godwin
Parents, preceded in death: Mother Edna Faye and Father Ernest L. Godwin
Sons and Daughters: Pamela (Dann) Welch, Beth (Paul) Cossu, Terry (Gail) Godwin, Angie Godwin, and Greg (Johnett) Godwin.
Brothers and sisters: Preceded in death; Kay Donna Graham. Survived by; Robert Lynn Godwin
Grandchildren: Julia and Eli, Alicia and Phillip, Meghan and Jacob, Lauren and Ben, Madelyn and Eric, Stephen, Jessie, Cory, Tanner and Emily Anne, Jordan and Ryan, Hunter, Cecily and Caleb, Ashia, and Cooper
Great-Grandchildren: Cruz, Tatum, Tucker, Hudson, Ryker, Sloane, Stella, Phoenix, Gus, Lyle, Sterling, Josephine, Ivy, Champ, Walt, and Henry.
A funeral service to honor the life of James is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the First Baptist Church in Lindsay, Oklahoma.
Services are under the direction of Scott and Angel Wilbourn of Wilbourn Family Funeral Home. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.wilbournfamilyfuneralhome.com.