Dr. Isaias Ismael R. Goco

1932 - 2025

Dr. Isaias Ismael R. Goco

May 4, 1932 - Jul 26, 2025

Dr. Isaias Ismael R. Goco, 93, passed away at his home in Advance on July 26, 2025. He was the son of Tomas Lorenzo Goco and Lourdes Roldan Goco. Dr. Goco was a pioneering Filipino American surgeon who was born and raised in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. At a young age, Dr. Goco was recognized as an exceptionally bright student with a passion for learning. After graduating from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in 1956 at the young age of 24, Dr. Goco was recruited to intern at the Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., when there was a shortage of physicians in the U.S.

After completing his residency in Missouri, Dr. Goco and his late wife, Jane Collins Goco, moved to Winston-Salem, where he opened up his own medical practice with a specialty in general and vascular surgery. Dr. Goco was the first Filipino surgeon to establish a medical practice in Winston-Salem. Through his hard work, perseverance, surgical talent, likable personality, and dedication to his patients, Dr. Goco became a very successful and well-known surgeon. Early on in his surgical career, Dr. Goco brought his sister Lucila Goco Chambers (David) and her six children, Jimmy Gonzales (Beverly), Agnes Roach (Pat), Eva Dinion (Mike), Joel Gonzales, Eddie Gonzales (Anne), and Thomas Gil Gonzales (Rita) to the United States. Lucy worked tirelessly alongside her brother as his surgical nurse until her retirement.

Throughout his career, Dr. Goco enjoyed educating nurses and new surgeons on the job and training surgical students from Bowman Grey School of Medicine. He took his nephew, the late Dr. Eddie Gonzales, under his wing when Dr. Gonzales began his surgical practice, and he also trained his daughter, Dr. Lori Kellam, to become a talented and successful surgeon. Dr. Kellam worked alongside him at Goco Surgical Associates.

Dr. Goco retired in 2007 after working for over 40 years as a surgeon. Doctors and nurses who worked with Dr. Goco always remember him fondly for his friendly and cheerful personality and his witty sense of humor. His many former patients and their families remember him as a kind and compassionate man who always strived to do his best to ensure the health and longevity of his patients.

Dr. Goco and his late wife, Jane, raised five beautiful children whom they loved dearly. Dr. Goco was predeceased by his eldest daughter, Shirley Lourdes Staton; and is survived by his daughters, Dr. Lori Kellam, Amy Bircher, Anne Kirby; and his son, Tomas Lorenzo Goco (Julie). Dr. Goco later married and divorced Yvonne Dorsett Goco, with whom he had a son named Nicolas.

Dr. Goco was blessed to have 10 grandchildren: Chris Youth, Sean Smith, Tommy Kellam, Molly Yaeger, Corey Kellam, Sammy Bircher, Shirley Johnson, Caroline Kirby, Ilana Kirby, Tomas J. Goco, Jordan Goco, and Brittany Goco; and 10 great-grandchildren, with whom he often enjoyed visiting and spending time with during his retirement. In his spare time, Dr. Goco also enjoyed attending Wake Forest football and basketball games, deep-sea and fly fishing, and playing tennis with friends and family.

Dr. Goco was a man of strong Christian faith who attended the weekly Sunday service at River Oaks Church and participated in their weekly Bible study group. Church members remember Dr. Goco for his zest for the Lord and his considerable knowledge of scripture.

Dr. Goco was dearly loved and will be forever missed by his many friends and family in the U.S. and the Philippines. In addition to the above-mentioned relatives, Dr. Goco was predeceased by his brothers, Nestor Goco and Nestor Job; his sister, Flordeliza Gozar; his cousins, Alfonso Badillo, Victor Caballero, and Adela Badillo; and was survived by his sisters, Elizabeth Lavares and Rosanna Goco; his nieces, Merlie Ong, Lorna Ravede, Lourdes McHargue, Fides Putong, Elizabeth Timonera, Ludette Goco, and Ann Marie Goco; and his nephews, Job Lavares, Patrick Lavares, Tito Gozar, Joey Gozar, and Zaldy Goco.

A memorial service for Dr. Goco will be held at the River Oaks Church in Clemmons on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 1 p.m.

The family gives special thanks to Drs. Robert L. Bloomfield, Garrett Sherwood, Gregory Means, and Trellis Supportive Care for taking good care of Dr. Goco through an extended illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the River Oaks Church.