William Middlebrook Goss Jr.

Goss, William Middlebrook Jr.
age 88, of Delray Beach, Florida and Middlebury, Connecticut, died January 29th, 2009 at the Harbor's Edge Health Center in Delray Beach, Florida. Born in New York City in 1920, the son of May Bourne Miller and William Middlebrook Goss of Waterbury, Connecticut and New York City, New York. Bill, as he was known, attended C. Lawrence-Smith in New York City, the Rumsey Hall School in Cornwall, Connecticut, Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and graduated from Westminster School, in Simsbury, Connecticut in 1940. While attending Yale University he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was trained as a code cryptographer and as a Sergeant spent two years in North Africa. After returning to Waterbury, Connecticut Bill became senior-vice president of the Century Brass Company until he retired and moved to Florida. Bill was an avid fly fisherman and golfer and won his first golf championship at the age of 21 years at the Waterbury Country Club in Waterbury, Connecticut. Bill went on to play in many state tournaments through out New England. He was a member of the Connecticut State Golfer's Association and the Connecticut State Seniors Association. He was active in Connecticut as the Connecticut State Easter Seals President. Bill was also a member of the Waterbury Hospital Board, the Visiting Nurses Board of Directors and the American Red Cross Board. His club memberships included The Yale Club, The Highfield Club in Middlebury Connecticut, The Little Club in Gulfstream, Florida and for many years the Ekwanok Country Club in Manchester, Vermont. Bill also enjoyed his membership at the Pootatuck Fishing Club in Newtown, Connecticut. Bill is survived by his wife Eleanor of 63 years, (Eleanor H. Goss), his three daughters, Elaine Witherspoon of Litchfield, Connecticut, Daryl Weil of Paradise Valley, Arizona, and Harriet Madeira of Berwyn, Pennsylvania and their spouses and grandchildren. Bill also has two sisters, Patricia Hoffman of New Ipswich, New Hampshire and Marta Johnston of Duxbury, Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 5th at 11:30 a.m. at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, 188 South Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 or Alzheimer's Association, Southeast Florida Chapter, P.O. Box 22594, West Palm Beach, FL 33416. Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, Delray Beach.