Chester A. Gosper, Jr.

Chester A. Gosper, Jr.

Male 1928 - 2004  (76 years)

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  • Name Chester A. Gosper 
    Suffix Jr. 
    Birth 24 Jan 1928  West Almond, Allegany Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 13 Dec 2004  West Almond, Allegany Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 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.
    Person ID I25887  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2011 

    Father Chester A. Gosper 
    Mother Reva D. Stewart,   b. Apr 1899, West Almond, Allegany Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage Abt 1921 
    Family ID F7806  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Eleanor Davison 
    Marriage 10 Feb 1948 
    Children 
     1. Cheryl Gosper
     2. Janet Gosper
     3. Reva Gosper
     4. Chester A. Gosper, III
    Family ID F7807  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 24 Jan 1928 - West Almond, Allegany Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 13 Dec 2004 - West Almond, Allegany Co., New York, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Chester Gospher Jr.
    Chester Gospher Jr.