David Goddard
March 13, 1942 – February 5, 2022
Our community has lost a wonderful man, and the team at Whatcom Land Title Company has lost a dear friend, co-founder, former owner, and mentor.
David Goddard, a man with a sly sense of humor and an infectious laugh, was born on March 13, 1942, in Swedish Hospital in Seattle. He graduated from Seattle’s Roosevelt High School and then headed to the University of Washington, where he studied literature, both contemporary and classical. Before he could graduate, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country in the war in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1966.
David graduated from the University of Washington in 1968 and eventually became involved in the real estate title insurance industry. Once he started down that path, he never stopped. He worked in various capacities in several title companies, both in Seattle and in eastern Washington. David eventually moved back to Bellingham, where he became manager of the local Safeco Title Company office. In 1982, David and investors bought the assets of the local Transamerica Title Company office and established Whatcom Land Title Company as an independent title and escrow company in Bellingham. Later, Colleen Baldwin joined him in management and ownership of the business. In 2016, David sold his interest and retired from Whatcom Land Title.
David’s ebullient personality attracted an eclectic network of friends over the years, and David spent much of his quality time in their company. His friends and co-workers became accustomed to overhearing comments from him that were uniquely his own. When someone asked David how he was doing, he would often reply, “Better now that I’ve seen you!” which invariably brought a smile in reply. When in the restroom with a couple of his male co-workers, David would quip “This is the only place I truly know what I am doing.” David’s well-recognized laugh garnered instant laughs in return, and his comments brought comfort to good friends over the years.
While David’s mind remained agile, he began to have trouble walking and was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Fortunately, he received good medical care; with proper medication and a powerful will to modify his lifestyle, David was able to continue to enjoy life even as his disease progressed. David knew his time remaining to travel was limited, so he embarked upon a series of vacations to places that had always intrigued him. During this period, he was also fortunate to get to know Christine Schumak. Christine became a close confidante of David and together they shared many of those journeys. She remained a comforting presence in his life until the end.
David died in Whatcom Hospice House on February 5, 2022. A celebration of David’s life will occur when the pandemic’s presence has diminished. Donations to Whatcom Hospice Foundation are welcome.
