A WWII survivor who lived in McLennan County passed away on Monday.
Godfrey Sullivan, 97, served in the U.S. Navy for 10 years. He left Hawaii two days before the attack on Pearl Harbor and returned one day after.
"He didn't talk about it much for many, many years but whenever he finally sat down to tell a story, we were amazed at the things we overcame," Sullivan's daughter, Meredith Perkins said.
During his service, Sullivan was the sole survivor of an airplane crash in Hawaii and one of the two survivors of another airplane crash in Panama Bay.
At the end of WWII, he returned to Waco and graduated from Baylor University Law School. He practiced law in Waco for 30 years and was a member at St. Alban's Church in Waco.
"He was such a positive, caring person. He would give the shirt off his back to help anyone. He was always there to listen," Perkins said.
According to his obituary, he was survived by his wife, two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
"I'm sad because he is gone but happy because he is not suffering. I know he is always with us and around us forever. I'm really proud of the person he has been and I just hope I can be half of the person he was," Perkins said.
Sullivan's graveside service will take place at Moore Cemetery at 3 p.m. on Friday. During the ceremony, the family will receive a military recognition for Sullivan.
"I think he had the most fun and fascinating life. All of us would strive, we would aspire to live half of the life he lived," Godfrey said.
Contributions in memorial can be made to St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Waco.
Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.
