Thomas Godkins

Thomas Regis Godkins passed away as the sun was rising on Monday, June 28, 2010 at his home in Afton, Oklahoma (The Coves). Tom was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1944 to Regis and Ellen (King) Godkins. Tom served his country as a Navy Corpsman from 1964-1967, with his last duty being to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. Tom Godkins was a 1969 graduate of the Duke Physician Assistant Program. He received a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Oklahoma following undergraduate work at Youngstown, Duke, and Oklahoma. He was the first PA to be employed by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and their first formally trained PA to be placed in a satellite clinic. He served on the faculty of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) for 35 years; 10 years as Associate Director of the PA Program and 25 years with the central administration as Assistant Provost, Director of Capital Planning, and Associate Vice President for Facilities Management. He practiced clinically for 15 years, at Mayo Clinic and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Oklahoma City. While in University administration, he continued to serve on the PA Program Admissions Committee and taught the history of the PA profession. Tom Godkins served twice as President of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (1972-1973; 1975-1976) and was the first non-physician President (1979-1980) of the Association of Physician Assistant Programs (now the Physician Assistant Education Association). He was a Founding Member and Fellow of the AAPA and served as the first Newsletter Editor. In recognition of his many contributions, the Oklahoma Academy of Physician Assistants in collaboration with the University of Oklahoma Physician Associate Program established an endowed Annual PA Student Scholarship Award in his name. He was united in marriage to Lois Weinheimer on December 26, 1967 and together they raised two children. Tom enjoyed spending time with family and friends at Grand Lake. He was also a member of the Coves Bridge Club, the Romeos, and the Coves Architectural Committee. Survivors include: his wife Lois, son Scott and wife Athena, daughter Heather McDonnell and husband Steve, grandchildren Addison and Gabrielle Godkins, Vincent and Leo McDonnell, and one brother, James Lee Godkins and wife Carol. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 1, 2010 at the Cleora Methodist Church with Father Celestine Obidiegwu officiating. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The University of Oklahoma Cancer Institute, 975 NE 10th St., Rm. 1417, Okc, OK 73104, or to the Good Shepard Hospice of Grove, 2084 South Main Street Grove, OK 74344-5325. Services are under the direction of Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com

Service Details

Thursday, July 1st, 2010 2:00pm, Cleora United Methodist Church