Grover C. Gouker Jr.

LANCASTER Grover C. Gouker Jr., 86, formerly of Hanover passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, May 16, 2009. He was the husband of Gloria J. (Neff) Gouker. They were married on January 2, 1994 in Hanover. Grover was born in Hanover on October 15, 1922, to the late Grover C. Gouker Sr. and Mary Viola (Hough) Gouker. He was well known for being a People Skills Trainer, Public Speaker, Author, and most importantly the 'Official Corresponding Santa Claus'. Upon discharge from the U.S. Army, Grover worked in the Hanover Post Office for seven and a half years. While there in 1950 he started his world renowned program as The Official Corresponding Santa Claus, answering more than 100,000 letters, personally written to children in seven countries, and all fifty states. He was assisted in this program by his youngest daughter, Peg Kyle and his lovely wife, Gloria. Originally his older daughter, Patti Ensminger helped to hand deliver answers to late written letters in the area. This project was truly a "labor of love." Grover was a WWII Veteran in the US Army. He entered the service in 1943 and was assigned to the Barrage Balloon Corps, Artillery Division and was selected to the Army Specialized Training Program and was sent to the University of Alabama. There he held the rank of Cadet Colonel. He was then selected as one of 1200 to attend Vanderbilt University in a Pre-Med program. He was then assigned to the Medical Corps in Camp Barkely, Texas, where he was injured for a medical discharge. His education prior to the service included graduating from Thompson Business College. He was an avid sports, music, and drama enthusiast. Grover was the author of "My Santamental Journey" and "I Don't Want NO Soap". He was a nationally known public speaker, Motivator, and Humorist. He has spoken to more than 20,000 audiences, holding workshops, seminars, presentations for industry, business, civic groups, professional groups, conventions, hospitals, and educational groups. As a community leader he was former President of Hanover Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, Greater Hanover Civic, Corp and Hanover Youth Council. He was former Chapter Chairman of the American Red Cross, former Founder and Commander of the AMVETS, Charter President of the Hanover YMCA, Founder and Charter President of the Friends of the Library. He Chaired Fund Drives for the Red Cross, March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, and Christmas Seals. Some of his State and National activities included Former Charter President of the JCI SENATORS OF PENNSYLVANIA, former Vice-President of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, former Director of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, former State President of the Pennsylvania Junior Chamber of Commerce, organizer of the Pennsylvania Jaycee Public Speakers Bureau, former Vice-President of the Pennsylvania, Library Trustees, former State Vice Commander of the AMVETS, was selected to the World President's Committee on Community Development-Junior Chamber International. His honors and awards include the Official Corresponding Santa Claus, listed in the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, Recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Award from Kiwanis, Recipient of the Sertoma Freedom Award, and enrolled in "The Book of Golden Deeds" in recognition of Golden Deeds-Hanover Exchange Club in 2002. Grover was cited by the Korean Ambassador for the State Chairmanship of Korean War Orphans, was featured on ABC Ted Koppels's Nightline Christmas Eve, 2001, for his "Letters to Santa" program, selected "One of Lancaster's Most Intriguing People of 2001" by Larry Alexander of Lancaster Newspapers, was inducted into the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hall of Fame on October 16, 2004 and was the recipient of the 2005 Jefferson Award. In addition to his wife he is survived by two daughters, Peg J. wife of Chuck Kyle of McSherrystown, and Patti S. Ensminger companion of Peter McQuaid of Scottsdale, Ariz.; stepson, Austin Soto; stepdaughter, Monica Bloom; granddaughter, Erin Kyle; step granddaughter, Allison Murren; step great-granddaughters, Alivia Murren and Lucy Bloom; niece, Bonnie Walker of Florida; nephews, Thomas and Doug Long, and Glendon Ruhlman; grandnephews, Seth, Matthew, Pete, Troy Long; and a sister, Catherine H. Shaffer, all of Hanover. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Louise Lookenbill; and a sister, Mary Gelista Long. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service on Wednesday at 11 a.m. from the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Chapel, 3110 Lititz Pk., Lititz, with the Rev. J. Calvin Wenger officiating. Viewings will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be private and Military Honors will be rendered by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made in Grover's memory to the Hanover YMCA, 500 George St. Hanover, PA 17331; or to the Susquehanna Assoc. for the Blind, 244 N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA 17603. To send the family online condolences please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.c om