Julia Ann Godeke

Julia (Judy) Ann Girten Godeke passed away peacefully on May 7, 2026, in Houston Texas with both her husband Richard of 61 years and close friend Linda Green present after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was born in McAllen Texas to Annie Laura Turner Girten and Henry Darnall Girten. She grew up in Corpus Christi Texas along with her sister, aunts, and cousins. She graduated from Mary Carrol High School in 1963 and attended Del Mar Junior College all while living in Corpus Christi. She met her husband in 1965 on a blind date and after a short courtship were married in May 1965. They moved to Houston so Richard could finish college. She worked for Sears and then for Coastal States Petroleum Company until Richard’s graduation where he then joined the Air Force. Judy became a military officer’s wife for 22 years where they were stationed in Wichita Falls, Texas for 8 years, Alexandria Louisiana for 3 years, Honolulu, Hawaii for two years, Osan, Korea for three years, and Centerville, Virginia for three years.

She excelled as a president and member of many Officer’s Wives Clubs (OWC) and as a A-10 squadron commander’s wife while stationed in Korea. After three years the family moved to Washington DC area to support her husband at the Pentagon. As such, she was a prolific writer who edited and wrote numerous OWC newsletters. During this time, she was also rearing two boys Richard Kyle born in 1968 and Christopher Scott born in 1972 as well as a continuing number of pets.

After Richard’s Air Force retirement, they moved to Austin Texas where she became the Executive Secretary for the Executive Director (ED) of the Summit, a large senior living community. She worked there for 10 years writing newsletters and running interference for the ED. Moved for a short time to Huntsville Alabama and then back to Houston where she became the Executive Secretary for the ED’s at Eagle’s Trace, a new senior living community. There she started in the trailers as the construction began for this soon to be large senior living community and was a mainstay there for 10 years until she retired in 2015 having worked for five ED’s. She then settled into retiring as a housewife where she was known for her wonderful Christmas letters.

Later when she developed the first stages of Parkinson’s she and Richard moved into Eagle’s Trace, the community she help build. She has had many friends in the community and was known for her always beautiful smile, beauty, clothes, hair, nails and her labradoodle Zoey. She was a regular at Parkinsons Rock Steady Boxing, and bingo.

Judy has endured the loss of her two sons Christopher Scott in 2012 and Richard Kyle in 2022. Both have given her grandsons who she adores, Gavin Chiles in Phoenix Arizona and Bryce Godeke in McGregor Texas.

Judy is survived by her husband Richard Godeke of 61 years in Houston Texas, her grandsons Gavin Chiles of Phoenix Arizona and Bryce Godeke of McGregor Texas, Daughter-in-law Shelley Godeke of McGregor Texas, Sister Alana Girten Welch, niece Megan Welch Urban of Dripping Springs Texas, brother-in-law Robert F. Godeke of Corpus Christi, cousins Doug Pursley of Conroe Texas and David Pursley of Corpus Christi Texas, Taylor Davies of Houston Texas and Cathy Lelpal of Waxahachie Texas, two great-grandsons Beckam and Rory Chiles of Phoenix Arizona.

Judy was a kind, caring and loving wife, mom and friend. She was a revered military wife and professional executive secretary that was well loved and valued. She loved her husband with a passion and was equally passionate about her sons and grandsons. She celebrated life’s events always remembering birthdays and any special events of family and friends. She loved her work and the seniors in the community and her coworkers and they loved her. She loved movies and knew all the actors and plots and could provide the information upon request with a wonderful memory.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Annie Laura Turner Girten and Henry Darnall Girten; her sons, Richard Kyle Godeke and Christopher Scott Godeke; and her cousin, Jeanie Davies.

Celebration of Life will be held at Forest Park Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road. Houston, TX 77077 on May 19, 2026, from 9am to 11am. In lieu of customary remembrances the family wishes memorial contributions be made in her honor to The Houston Area Parkinson Society at HAPS.org.