On April 30, 2019, Charles Richard (Dick) Goss, 97, died peacefully of old age in an adult care home in Tigard, Oregon. One of two sons, Dick Goss was born on July 15, 1921, in Montesano, Washington, to Wilbur Seely and Bessie (Moss) Goss. His brother Donn preceded him in passing (1918-2003). They were the descendants of an early pioneer family of Chehalis and Grays Harbor counties in Western Washington.
After graduating from Montesano High School in 1939, Dick continued at the University of Washington, where he studied forestry and later geology. He was also enrolled in the ROTC program, graduating in June of 1943.
During WWII, Dick served as a Lieutenant (j.g.) with the U.S. Navy in the Western Pacific, then after the war, returned to marry his college sweetheart (1945), Constance (Connie) Carolyn Goss (nee Halliday). In 1947, Dick and Connie both attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a graduate degree in geology.
In 1948, Dick joined Standard Oil Company of California. Over the following 25 years of his career as a petroleum geologist with Chevron Oil, Dick and his beloved wife raised five children while living and working overseas. Sharing a passion for exploring the world, Dick and Connie and their children were fortunate to have lived in many interesting locales including Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and the Philippines, as well as San Francisco.
After he retired in 1974, Dick and his family lived in San Francisco, and later moved to Atascadero, California, where he continued to pore over geological maps and seismic sections looking for the next “Big One”. Dick also enjoyed working with his hands, making pieces of furniture as well as building several houses and other unique structures for his family in California and in the Puget Sound area. He qualified as a general contractor, which he happily pursued as a hobby in retirement. Dick especially loved spending his later years at the family home on Puget Sound in Allyn, Washington.
He was preceded in death by Constance (3/12/21 – 3/13/85), his wife of forty years, and his son, Christopher Richard Goss (11/17/51 -11/1/84). He is survived by his second wife of 33 years, Carmen Nelson, one son: David Philip Goss (Peggy) of San Mateo, California; and three daughters, Leslie Meredith Goss of Mill Valley, California; Terry Ann Goss Hanford of Olney, Maryland; and Dana Carol Goss Otto (Darren), of Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Megan and Daniel Hanford; Emily and Charley Goss; Ian, Carolyn, and Martin Agrimis; and great-grandson, Asher Hanford.
Dick loved talking about finding oil fields and he loved the outdoors, in particular, the majestic beauty of the Olympic National Forest. No service is planned. Any donations in his memory may be made to Washington’s National Park Fund or to a charity of your choice.
