Phillip D. Goss

Phillip Dean Goss, 91, of St. Johnsbury passed away at his home Sept. 21, 2023 following a short bout with pancreatic cancer. He was born June 1, 1932 in Lyndon Vt. to Dean A. Goss and Della (Heath) Goss and grew up on Anderson Street in Barnet Vt. He graduated from St. Johnsbury Trade School in 1950 and had the good fortune to be encouraged to consider a teaching career by Lewis Streeter, revered Trade School principal. He then attended and graduated from Lyndon Teachers College in 1954, where he met his bride of 66 years, Ellen Louise (Goodrich) Goss, who predeceased him in 2020.

Dad worked as a teacher at the Vermont State Hospital, as well as principal of Moretown School. He became a social worker for the State Dept. of Welfare in 1960 “because you couldn’t make a living as a teacher.” He progressed through the ranks of the social welfare dept. and moved his family to St. Albans, Vergennes, and eventually St. Johnsbury where he retired as the District Director of the Income Maintenance Dept. of Welfare.

He had his hand in lots of pies, from the Masons to South Church and then First Congregational Church of Lyndonville, and North Country Chorus. He volunteered faithfully providing registration for the American Red Cross Blood Drives (and donated 26 gallons of blood along the way). After he retired, he volunteered as a Guardian for Probate Court and an attendent at the Chamber of Commerce Information Booth, both in St. Johnsbury. Back in the day when local motels were full during fall foliage season, he and Mom would show Yankee hospitality by opening their home to tourists in need of lodging. He also cooked for many events at First Congregational Church in Lyndonville, including Teacher's Luncheons and Rotary lunches, for nearly 15 years. 

Dad is predeceased by his baby son Thomas Luther Goss, brother Robert H. Goss of Jericho Vt., and sister Elizabeth (Goss) Carter of West Palm Beach Fla.

He is survived by his sister Irene (Goss) Harlow and her husband Dick of Montpelier, as well as his children, Karol L. Parker of Sugar Hill N.H., Richard D. Goss of Summerville S.C., Stephanie L. Churchill and husband Jay of St. Johnsbury, and Kenneth P. Goss, most favoritely of Fort Walton Beach Fla., most recently of Virginia Beach, Va. He is also survived by grandchildren Sarah (John) Gieselman of Attleboro Mass., Rebecca Wolf of Bethlehem N.H., Adam (Emily) Robards of South Milwaukee Wis., Nathaniel Goss of Nashville Tenn., Ian Goss of Gloucester Va., along with extended family grandchildren who made him smile, Brianna, Meaghann and Alec.

A memorial service will be held Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Lyndonville. He will be interred at Barnet Center Cemetery during a private ceremony.

Donations in his memory may be made to: Good Living Senior Center, St Johnsbury, or Darling Inn Meal Site, Lyndonville.

Memories and condolences may be shared with family at CaledoniaLifeServices.com.