Lakeport---Arnold Shirley Goss, 89, of Lakeport, passed away at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia on Thursday. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, and was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Alice Goss, and his brother, Donald. He’ll be dearly missed by his wife of 67 years, Mary Elizabeth (Bryant) Goss, or as he called her, “Betty.”
If nothing else, Arnold was a humble man, which is why he would never have said the following about himself:
When the people who knew Arnold best reflect on his long and wonderful life, there is a clear theme—he was a man who served.
He served his country in World War II, volunteering in the U.S. Army two years after Pearl Harbor was attacked on his 16th birthday. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for heroism as a member of the 42nd Rainbow Division.
He served New Hampshire as a telephone lineman, installing and climbing telephone poles across the Granite State for over 30 years.
He even served the citizens of Laconia as a young soda jerk at the Rexall Drug Store, back when you had to mix flavored syrup with carbonated water by hand.
But his longest tour of service came as the patriarch of his family. Arnold’s love, loyalty and devotion to his family can’t be overstated. He is survived by his three children – Steve, Holly and Glenn – and their spouses, who Arnold loved as his own. He also shared a special bond with each of his 10 adoring grandchildren.
Arnold leaves 10 great grandchildren (and counting), and they’re sure to hear the stories and lessons of their great grandfather. They’ll learn of his kindness, his sense of humor and his Bunyanesque physical strength. But most of all they’ll learn about his willingness to serve everyone around him without asking much of anything in return. That is why the legend of “Bubba” will live forever.
There will be no calling hours.
A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 1:00PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H.
Burial will follow in the family lot in Bayside Cemetery, Laconia, N.H.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the New Hampshire Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247, The United Baptist Church, 23 Park Street, Lakeport, NH 03246 or the Community Wellness Center, 22 Strafford St., Suite 2, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.