Robert Goss

HINSDALE, N.H. -- Robert Stephen Goss, 85, of Rolling Hills, died on April 3, 2004, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital after a period of declining health.

He was born in Tunbridge, Vt., on May 23, 1918, to Clarence and Marie Royce Goss. His mother died in childbirth when he was 2 years old. He was raised by foster parents, Carl and Ruby Pierce, of East Randolph, Vt., and later moved to South Royalton, Vt. The house that he was raised in is now part of the Vermont Law School.

Mr. Goss had a long and varied working career starting at the Foundry in Hinsdale, and including meatcutter for the A&P Grocers, Brattleboro, Vt., construction worker at Mackin Construction Co., in Greenfield, Mass., and a plant worker at the American Optical, in Brattleboro, Vt.

He was also owner and operator his own restaurant together with his wife Eva and brother-in-law, Charles Rice, in Lanesboro, Mass.

After his retirement from England Brothers department store, in Pittsfield, Mass., and upon the death of his wife, he returned to Hinsdale, where he had resided most of his adult life.

He logged many miles as a volunteer driver for the American Red Cross in Keene and the Vermont Association of the Blind and RSVP, in Brattleboro.

Mr. Goss was honored by the Vermont Association for the Blind in 1990 as the “driver of the year” with 3,593 volunteer miles.

He was a 50-year member and past master of Philesian Golden Rule Masonic Lodge in Hinsdale, where he and his wife assisted with many meals sponsored by the lodge.

While a patient in Applewood Nursing Home in Winchester, he was presented his 50 years award pin, which gave him great pride.

He loved his “adopted” grandchildren, who called him “Grampy Bob,” at the day-care center run by his stepdaughter, Julie Hildreth.

He loved working in his annual vegetable garden located behind the Hinsdale Elementary School, where he visited with the schoolchildren and people of the neighborhood.

On June 14, 1941, he married Eva Collette Rice of Hinsdale, who predeceased him on Feb. 5, 1980. He was also predeceased by an infant son, Robert, Jr., on May 17, 1945.

He is survived by his wife, Cecile Chase Goss, whom he married on Feb. 2, 1987; a daughter, Barbara Page, and Richard Steria of Hinsdale; a daughter, Sandra Goss, of Pittsfield, Mass.; and a son, Stephen, and wife, Linda, of Spofford; a stepdaughter, Julie, and husband Charlie of Hinsdale; and two stepsons, John Chase and his wife Noreen, and James “Jim” Chase, and wife Cathy, all of Swanton, Vt.; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, 13 step-granchildren and 17 step-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational Church in Hinsdale at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, 2004, followed by burial at the Pine Grove Cemetery, with a tribute by the Philesian Golden Rule Masonic Lodge of Hinsdale. A reception will immediately follow in the church vestibule. Memorial donations may be made to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 293, Brattleboro, VT 05302.u