At 93 years of age, Philip "Ted" Goetz peacefully passed away at his home on April 9, 2026, surrounded by family and loved ones.

A memorial service to honor Ted's life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 2 at St. James United Methodist Church in Newport, officiated by Rev. Joseph Parks. The family will receive friends following the service in the Church Fellowship Hall.

Philip Theodore "Ted" Goetz was born September 24, 1932, in Sioux City, Nebraska, the oldest of two children, to Philip and Eloise Goetz.

Growing up Ted was very close with his younger sister "Marty" and though she lived on the West Coast they remained close through the years.

From a very early age Ted loved all things planes, trains, boats and automobiles. After attending Illinois Wesleyan College, he joined the Navy in 1955, became a Naval Aviation Cadet and attended flight school in Pensacola, FL. After training, Ted joined the Marine Corps and continued flying a variety of planes, but logging the most hours on the A-6 and the C-130.

Ted met and married Margaret "Mot" Thomas in August of 1957 while stationed at Cherry Point, NC. Ted, with Margaret and their three daughters, were stationed at El Toro, CA, Kaneohe, HI and then back to Cherry Point, NC. This time included several tours in Viet Nam. After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1976, Ted enjoyed sailing and all things boats. He was one of the founding members of the Hancock Yacht Club at Cherry Point and ultimately opened the "Boat Yard" in Havelock, NC where he sold and repaired boats, but more than anything he enjoyed meeting and talking with his customers. Ted's lifelong love for all things transportation included his love for automobiles as he most recently eluded that he had owned more than 50 automobiles in his lifetime and could easily recount each one's year, make and model. He was also an avid reader and had an extensive collection of books on military and transportation.

As a long time member of St. James UMC in Newport, NC, Ted had a natural calling to help others especially those in the greatest of need. In doing so, He served with "Matthew 25" of St. James UMC for many years - assisting those in the community to help meet food, housing and other basic needs. In later years He took up his childhood love for trains and began attending train shows, collecting model trains and even adding a garden railroad in his backyard. Ted also served as treasurer for his neighborhood, Plantation Harbor and continued serving as treasurer well into his 80's.

After Margaret passed away in 2016, Ted's many dear friends, neighbors and family were essential to him enjoying a rich and full life over these past ten years.

He is survived by his daughters, Meg Goetz Waser (Dave) and Sonya Goetz Lewis (Tommy); four grandchildren, Joshua Lewis (Noelle), Molly Lewis, Zachary Waser and Andrew Waser; three nieces, Jill Mosher, Heather Mosher (Chuck) and Max Mosher (Julian); and two great nephews, Finn Mosher-Locke and Aiden Smith.

Ted was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Goetz; his daughter, Donna Goetz; his sister, "Marty" Mosher; and his parents Phil and Eloise Goetz.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.