Emma May Goddard

Emma May Young Bruce Goddard

August 4, 1931 to July 9, 2025

Emma May Goddard passed away peacefully at her home in Dunwoody Village, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania on the morning of July 9, 2025. She was a summer resident of Ocean City, New Jersey, where she formed many happy memories. Emma May was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Mary Ann Brooks Bruce and John Fries Bruce of Philadelphia. She met her husband of 58 years, Richard Henry Goddard, Jr. (deceased) at Trinity Lutheran Church at 18th and Wolf Streets in the Girard Estates neighborhood. They married in 1953 after Dick returned from service on the USS Floyd D Parks (DD-884) and his college years in California.

Emma May was a graduate of Girl’s High in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she made friendships that lasted until her death. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952 at the age of 20. She was a member of Delta Gamma (Women’s) Fraternity at UPenn.

Emma May is survived by her children, Kathryn Doms (Robert), Bruce (Debra) Goddard and Marianne Ruffini, grandchildren, Michael Goddard (Amber), Erin Goddard, Heather Geymann (Kyle), Kathy Ruffini, Alexandra Doms, Phillip Ruffini, and Christian Doms, and great grandchildren, Noah Goddard, Jacob Goddard, Lily Geymann, Liam Goddard, and Rosemary Geymann.

Emma May loved life. She was a life master bridge player who enjoyed playing bridge at university, while living in Drexel Hill and Broomall, PA, later in Punta Gorda, FL, and every week during the summer at Ocean City Yacht Club. She was an active volunteer throughout her life as a Delta Gamma regional alumnae advisor, a Sunday School teacher and member of Session at Bethany Presbyterian Church, Havertown, PA, and at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, Punta Gorda, Florida, and as a board member of the Ocean City Yacht Club, Ocean City, New Jersey. Emma May was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She very much enjoyed painting throughout her life, particularly china painting during her years in Punta Gorda, Florida. Emma May and Dick were avid travelers, visiting China, Africa, and Russia, as well as making sure that trips to see the United States were part of their children’s education.

Friends and family are invited to the visitation from 3:00 to 4:00 PM Thursday July 17 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 640 Berwyn Avenue, Berwyn, Pennsylvania. A Memorial Service will follow at 4:00 PM at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church in memory of Emma May to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Berwyn, PA https://www.trinityberwyn.com/  or to Guide Dogs for the Blind https://donate.guidedogs.com/for/twzi.