Wayne Richard Godfrey II '68



Wayne was born July 19, 1950 at 4:45 AM to Dorothy Ethyl Godfrey and Wayne Richard Godfrey in Fort Monmouth Hospital, New Jersey.

He was an only child, as the son to an Idaho patriot who served proudly Army 27 years in three wars; WWII, Korea and Viet Nam.

Wayne grew up around the world, living in and savoring Japan, Holland, Germany, France and Thailand and thanks to his father's NATO assignments, graduating from Frankfurt American High School in Frankfurt, Germany in 1968.

He always ranked high in academics, being a National Honor Society member and graduating 19th in his senior class. Wayne was also quite athletic, being a member of cross country, wrestling and golf teams. He was active in student politics and popular, becoming student body president of FAHS's 1,400 member student body as well as Frankfurt HS Dormitory President. He won a Presidential nomination to the US Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1972 with Dean's List honors. After 7 years, he resigned his Army commission and along with his Tacoma born wife and partner Shirley, settled in Albuquerque, starting their popular gaming establishment on Central Avenue, "Wargames West".

They went on to build a second location in Memphis, Tennessee, which became the 2nd largest North American adventure gaming distributor with over 1,000 stores buying from them.

Wayne and Shirley divorced in 1999 but remained close friends thanks to Shirley's forgiving nature. Wayne's new partner, L'aura Linda Black, and he met on a romantic weekend flight, first date in San Francisco and they remained lovingly entwined until his death.

Wayne had no children but secretly counted L'aura's three children and five grandchildren as his own. They called him Papa Wayne and Bonus Dad, of which he was chest-puffingly proud.

Wayne will have no service, however, his ashes will be scattered at Campo Santo, Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, alongside their dog Scarlett. And someday to come, L'aura will join him at their Campo Santo plaques...a fitting resting place for a man who adopted and loved spiritual New Mexico with its many diverse, kind and friendly people.

After a two year battle with prostate cancer, Wayne departed as he wished: in his home, accompanied by his L'aura, on March 10th, 2021, at 4:02 PM.

Vaya con Dios, Wayne.