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- WEST ALMOND - Chester A. Gosper, 76, of 2457 Turnpike Road, passed
away peacefully Monday (Dec. 13, 2004) at home.
Born in West Almond, Jan. 24, 1928, the son of Chester and Reva
Stewart Gosper, he had resided in West Almond all his life. Chet had
been in the U.S. Army during World War II, briefly worked for the Erie
Railroad, and had been a dairy farmer from 1949-58, Chet had retired
from the Town of West Almond as Highway Superintendent after serving
from 1958-1990.
On Feb. 10, 1948, he married the love of his life, Eleanor Davison,
who survives. Chet was a warm, caring, full of life, humorous and
honest man, whom many admired and looked up to.
He was predeceased by his parents, and his sister, Mary Oberg, in
1989.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Eleanor Gosper; three
daughters, Cheryl (Alf) Allen of Angelica, Janet Gordon of Angelica,
Reva Lentola of West Almond; one son, Chester (Wanda) Gosper III of
Almond; one sister, Roberta (Warren) Pomeroy of Rushford; one
stepbrother, Don (Shirley) Coombes of Almond; nine grandchildren,
Chester, Chetreva, Crystal, Casey, Buddy, Darin, Harley, Josie,
Myriah; six great-grandchildren, Devin, Zach, Christy Rae, Hannah,
Haylea, Riley; many special nieces and nephews, sisters and
brothers-in-law and many close friends.
To send a remembrance, please visit
www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com.
The family will be present 7-9 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 16) and Friday
(Dec. 17) 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 101
West Ave., Angelica, where funeral services will be held Saturday
(Dec. 18) at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Alfred Rural Cemetery.
Friends may make memorial contributions to: Angelica Rescue Squad,
P.O. Box 154, Angelica, NY 14709, or the West Almond Community
Building, c/o Leonard Watson, RD 1 Baker Valley Road, Belmont, NY
14813.
'Mr. West Almond' remembered - Chester Gosper left a legacy of
dedication
WEST ALMOND - Former town highway supervisor Leonard Watson said there
was one way to describe Chester "Chet" Gosper, the recently-deceased
former highway superintendent - Mr. West Almond.
That distinction was one of many glowing ways West Almond residents
described Gosper, who served as highway superintendent from 1958-90.
Gosper, who was born on Tuttle Road Jan. 24, 1928, died Monday at his
Turnpike Road home, leaving behind many accomplishments. He served in
the U.S. Army during World War II and worked at the Erie Railroad and
a dairy farm from 1949-58, before beginning a long career as town
highway superintendent.
Those who knew him say honesty and humor were his greatest traits.
Gosper's wife of nearly 57 years, Eleanor Gosper, said West Almond was
"Chet's town."
"He was the most honest, truthful person in town," Gosper said
Wednesday. "He was just a remarkable person. He never wanted to rile
people up. Just simply a great husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather. He was very loving of everyone."
The Gospers were married Feb. 10, 1948 in town hall and would go on to
have four children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Leonard Watson, a former town board member, began a renovation project
this summer in Gosper's name on the 151-year-old former Methodist
Church and grange on County Route 2 with the help of a large donation
by resident Bruce Hitchcock. His decision came after Gosper had been
diagnosed with diabetes and had both of his legs amputated. Watson
said working with Gosper in the past had been a pleasure.
"Chet would spend many hours sitting in on town board meetings,"
Watson said. "He was so nervous about how people felt and thinking of
ways he could better help the residents. He knew what everyone was
thinking, and was so concerned about the taxpayers. Also, he never
bought or did anything without the board's approval. He was
conservative in his proposals and didn't waste anything ... He was Mr.
West Almond."
Eleanor Gosper said her husband always asked to be taken on his
wheelchair to see the community center with his name on it, and said
he was thrilled with Watson's idea to go through with the renovation
in his honor. She said her late husband took the town highway
superintendent job in 1958 when the old superintendent became ill.
"He wanted to take the challenge," Gosper said. "At the time, the town
wasn't in that great of shape but he helped change it around. He
really enjoyed his work. Years ago, during a large blizzard, he helped
open a road to Angelica, which he was very proud of. He enjoyed
plowing snow and other duties of his job. He took the current highway
superintendent (Mike Sherman) under his wing when he worked there and
helped him."
Gosper's grandson, Chester Gosper IV, said his memories of his
grandfather were and always will be warm and caring.
"He was so honest and humorous," said Gosper, a director at Brown &
Powers Funeral Home in Hornell, Canisteo and Angelica. "Everyone just
loved him. He always had a lot to tell me in his later years and I
liked to listen. Even when he lost his legs, he never blamed it on
anyone, which is amazing because he was always a person who did
everything for other people. He never once lost his sense of humor or
personality."
Don Hoffman, the town supervisor, said Gosper suggested he get
involved with the town board back in 1985, before becoming supervisor
in 1989.
"He'd been a fixture in West Almond," Hoffman said. "He was a great
guy and was here as long as I can remember. He was well-liked and
respected by many people."
In addition to being town highway superintendent, Gosper's wife said
he was an active member of the Allegany Highway Superintendents
Association and lifelong member of the Almond Rod and Gun Club. He was
also an avid hunter and enjoyed barbecues and holidays, especially
Christmas, said Eleanor Gosper. She said Gosper had attended
Alfred-Almond School until he reached the ninth grade, and said the
two had met when she grew up on nearby Jersey Hill Road and they would
go sliding down snow hills on sleds as teenagers.
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