Robert Gooch

Robert Floyd Gooch
BOISE - Robert Floyd Gooch, 90, of Boise, died Friday, March 5, 2010, at a local care center. Robert was born on November 19, 1919, in Brigham City, Utah, to John Orson Jr. and Matilda Folkman Gooch. He spent his early years in the area of Bancroft, Idaho, where he attended his first years of school in the Gooch School, a two-room country school. Later the family moved to Burley, Idaho, where he graduated from Burley High School in 1937.
After working at various available jobs including a year as an evening teletype operator in a telegraph office, he decided to enter college. With the help of a family member and the promise of work, he entered Albion State Normal in the fall of 1939. He completed the two-year program by working as a reader, a janitor, and an occasional job in a dance band.
In the fall of 1941 he started his teaching career in a four-teacher country school. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, they held school a number of Saturdays to finish by May 1. On May 18, 1942, he entered the army as a Private. In December he entered Officer Candidate School in the rank of Staff Sergeant. He became a 2nd Lieutenant in April. He served in the Army for four years transferring to the Officer Reserve Corps in June of 1946. He immediately entered Southern Idaho College of Education in Albion, Idaho, where he completed the requirements for a degree by January. He then restarted his teaching career in Idaho. After a year and a half of teaching, he spent a full year in graduate school at the University of Washington and the University of Utah.
He completed 33 years in education in Idaho as a teacher, counselor and administrator. He also was employed three summers on the staff of special programs at Idaho State University.
After retirement he continued to live in Pocatello and at his summer place on the South Fork of the Snake River. In 1993 he moved to Boise.
He was always happy that he had the opportunity to travel quite extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. He also enjoyed being involved in various civic and educational organizations.
He was preceded in death by three sisters, Wilma Marriott, Louise Shelton, and Elaine Jenkins, and four brothers, Warren, Jesse, Ray, and LaVere. His father died in 1939 but his mother lived to be 90. He is survived by a close nephew and great-nephew, Paul and Kelly Jenkins in Boise. He is also survived by six nieces and two sisters-in-law.
No local services will be held. Cremation has been completed and inurnment will be at a later date in his niche at Cloverdale Park Cemetery in Boise. Arrangements are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Boise.
The family wishes to thank all the wonderful caregivers at the Boise VA Community Living Center and the VA Hospital.