Arrel E. Godfrey

Arrel E. Godfrey, 71, of East New Market passed away on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at UMSMC at Dorchester. He was born in Takoma Park, MD on October 20, 1942 and was a son of Barbara Thomas Godfrey and the late Arrel U. Godfrey.

Arrel graduated from Wheaton High School in Wheaton, Maryland in 1960, where he played the saxophone and first chair clarinet in both the orchestra and band. In 1965 he graduated from Wake Forest University, where he also was a member of the band. Arrel entered banking in Baltimore in 1965 and rose to be Senior Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer of Potomac Valley Bank in Gaithersburg, MD. He retired after 47 years in banking and moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

While living in Montgomery County, he was very active in the Rotary, especially the literacy program and also the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Arrel's major interests were basketball, where he played county recreation ball, softball for over 60 years and helping animals. He was on a traveling softball team, where they won many tournaments including a national title for the past 3 years. He traveled to St. George, Utah to play softball in the Huntsman Games. Last year, he pitched for a Canadian team and won the gold medal. Just this September his team won gold at the Maryland Senior Olympics.

Since living in East New Market, he has been volunteering at Baywater Animal Rescue and helping Kitty City Rescue.

On April 3, 1982, he married the former Diane Matthews whom he has been married to for 32 years.

He is survived by his wife Diane Godfrey of East New Market, his mother Barbara Godfrey of Hobe Sound, FL, a sister Connie LeBar and husband John of Hobe Sound, FL, his son A. Thomas Godfrey and wife Amber and their children Gabrielle and Tommy all of Marietta, GA.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 11 a.m. at East New Market Cemetery with Rev. William Davis officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 91, Cambridge, MD 21613, Kitty City Rescue, P.O. Box 1259, Cambridge, MD 21613 or a charity of one's choosing. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.