Clesson D. “Bud” Godden, Jr., 62, of Elkhart, Ind. and former resident of Niles, died at 2:18 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at DuBois Regional Medical Center in DuBois, Penn., unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

Funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Larry Settle, minister of Cassopolis.

Burial will be in Coulter’s Chapel Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.

He was born on Aug. 26, 1947, in Colon, to Clesson Dale Godden, Sr. and Hazel Janice Rippey.

He graduated from Niles High School and lived in Niles most of his life.

He was an over-the-road truck driver. He had formerly been employed for many years at Page Transport, Goshen, Ind.

He was formerly active in the Moose Lodges in Wabash, Ind. and Dowagiac.
He enjoyed drinking coffee with friends at area restaurants.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Celsson and Hazel (Rippey) Godden, Sr.
Surviving family includes two daughters, Sonnie Marie (Russ) Banicki of Niles and Rhonda (Jeff) Arthur of Niles; son, Grant Godden of Gainesville, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lois Mullett of Waynesboro, Va. and Sue Anne Gitchell of Stuart’s Draft, Va.; a brother, Matthew Godden of Middlebury, Ind. and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Mooseheart Child City & School, Mooseheart, IL 60539.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.