It is with great grief and great memories that we share with the community that Larry Steven Godden passed away from cardiac arrest on Dec. 29, 2024, with family at his side. 

Born on June 14, 1948, in Bellingham, Wash., to Ralph and Arlene Godden, Larry grew up learning about the value and reward of owning your own business, with his family’s jewelry and watch repair store, Godden Jewelry, in Bellingham, and a general store called The Hitching Post, in Stanwood, Wash.  

He graduated from high school in Stanwood. Upon earning an education degree, he became a basketball coach, a PE teacher and a special education teacher, before setting his sights on the skies — aviation.  

With the completion of his pilot’s license, he worked as a charter and cargo pilot in Colorado in the mid-1970s, then as a flight instructor at Big Bend Aviation in the early eighties. During this time, he was an airplane refueler at the Grant County Airport for Jett Aero, before working his way up to buying the company from his long-time mentor, Jim Abram. With a big rebrand, he launched Air America Fuel and Service, Inc., telling his kids it’s important to be first in the phone book. He ran this successful business until 2009, when he sold his company and stayed on as the General Manager of the new Million Air Moses Lake. He retired in June of 2023, just as he turned 75 years old, capping nearly 50 years of service at the airport.  

He was always active in his community and had a giving heart. With a long tenure in the local Rotary Chapter, a key contributor to the Japanese Peace Garden, a strong advocate of the “87 Forgotten Heroes” and a big supporter of the Moses Lake Air Show, Larry loved to help make a positive impact. 

Larry was a dedicated father, friend, mentor, caretaker and leader. He was someone you could count on to help in any situation. He was a storyteller.  

Boy, did he love to tell stories.  

He was funny, could carry a tune and played a mean harmonica. He was an oyster grill master. He was one of three amigos, with more dear friends than you could count — from those he had known most of his life, to those he just met that day. 

He was a big softie, with animals of all kinds holding a special place in his heart — especially dogs. He carried dog biscuits in his pockets and loved sharing stories and videos of his beloved canine companions. 

Dad and Gramps is missed dearly by his daughters, Carly, Holly and Jenna, his sons-in-law, Ben and Brent, and his grandchildren — Kayana, Brayleigh, Rylan, Hazel, Will, Emma and Ruby. His beloved dog, Dolce, has been adopted into a loving home by special friends of Larry.  

His celebration of life will come with the summer sunshine, likely around his birthday. Big hugs to all who love and miss him.