Raymond Goddard

Ray Goddard, 82, Terre Haute, passed away May 20, 2023 at Regional Hospital. He was born November 21, 1940 in Terre Haute to Raymond O. and Lucille (Wilson) Goddard. Ray was a 1962 graduate of Gerstmeyer High School where he was the class salutatorian, class president and a multi-sport athlete. He helped lead the Howard Sharpe coached Black Cats to the IHSAA basketball state finals game in 1957 and the semi state in 1958. He also lettered in baseball and track where he made it to the state finals in the high hurdles. Ray attended Indiana State University where he lettered in baseball and basketball. He led the NAIA in free throw shooting his senior year with a percentage of 91.2, and still ranks 13th in career scoring even though NAIA rules at the time only allowed student-athletes to have three years of varsity eligibility. Ray was elected to the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. After graduating from Indiana State in 1962, he was drafted by the Kansas City Steers of the America Basketball Association but he never played basketball professionally. He returned to the Wabash Valley area where he taught high school and coached high school basketball, baseball and golf at Reelsville High School and Clinton High School. Ray then turned to golf becoming a pro in 1970, coached Indiana State University’s men’s golf team, and was a 49-year member of the PGA. He won Indiana PGA junior, senior and super senior tournaments, notably tying Fuzzy Zoeller for runner up in the 1973 Indiana State Open won by Wally Armstrong. Ray holds the course record at the Terre Haute Country Club with a 61; qualified for the National Senior Club Pro; bettered his age in an Indiana PGA event with a 69 at age 70; and made eleven holes-in-one. Ray served as the head pro at several golf courses including Terre Haute Elks Club, Rea Park Golf Course, Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill, CA, and Idle Creek Golf Course from which he retired in 2019. Ray previously owned Hoosier Hills Golf Course as well as Imperial Lanes Bowling Alley and the Blue Bonnet Restaurant.

Ray is survived by his longtime companion Katy Drummy, Westfield, IN; sister Linda Miller and stepsister Jackie Kane both of Terre Haute; nephews Paul R. Nash (Sara), Westfield, IN; Brian Nash (Amelia Blubaugh), Bowling Green, KY; and niece Michelle (Andy) Gutish, Terre Haute; as well as great nephew Will (Maggie) Houchin, Jackson, TN; and great nieces Rachel, Bridget, and Erin Gutish, Terre Haute; and Presley Nash, Bowling Green, KY and those who knew and loved him as Ray Ray.

Visitation will be from 1:00-5:00 pm on Wednesday May 24th at Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 S. 25th Street, with the funeral service at 5:00 pm. Following the service, a celebration of Ray's life will be held at The Pub located at the Meadows. Burial will take place at a later date at Roselawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray’s memory may be made to Indiana Golf Foundation, PO Box 26159, Indianapolis, IN 46226 or to ISU Foundation – Men’s Basketball, 30 North 5th Street, Terre Haute, IN  47809