Linn County News
Published March 23, 2022
Harold Edgar Goss, born Jan. 3, 1923, to Edgar Merritt Goss and Carrie (Tucker) Goss in Pleasanton, Kan., died, at the age of 99 on March 19, 2022, peacefully at his home in Leawood, Kan.
Harold grew up in Pleasanton, a small rural town south of Kansas City. His father was a teacher, a minister at the Disciples of Christ Church in Pleasanton, and a farmer of dairy cattle and honeybees. Harold began working almost as soon as he could walk, working on the farm, delivering milk from his father’s dairy to families in town, and traveling with his father to sell honey to country stores in southwestern Kansas and southeastern Missouri. When he turned 10 years old, he began working in “town.” He worked in the town grocery store, the filling station and the town theater, among other odd jobs. After graduating from Pleasanton High School in 1940, he hitchhiked to Garden City, Kan., and worked the wheat harvest during the summer of 1941.
Harold enrolled at the University of Kansas in the fall of 1941. He joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and was beginning to feel comfortable in Lawrence when Dec. 7, 1941, changed his life forever. He finished the semester and in May 1942 enlisted in the Army Air Corps soon to become the Air Force. He wanted to fly airplanes. He trained at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Washington University and attended flight school in San Antonio, Stanford and Perrin Field, Texas. He spent time as a flight instructor before shipping out for Europe in January 1944. Harold flew a P-47 Thunderbolt. He had a fierce Jayhawk painted on the fuselage of his plane modeled after a Kansas University calendar he brought with him to Europe. A photo of him in his P-47 is hanging in the “Remembrance” section in the front entrance of Allen Field house in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawk on his airplane is the same fighting Jayhawk that is used on the helmets worn by the Kansas football team during the annual military honors game. Harold flew 62 missions in Europe out of the 53rd squadron of the 36th Fighter Group based in Louvain, Belgium. He received the DFC and Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters. Harold was headed to the Pacific when the war ended, and he returned home and to the University of Kansas in 1946. He remained in the Air Force Reserve after the war and retired after 28 years as a Lt. Col.
Back in Lawrence he met Betty June Sullivan, the only daughter of Maude and Frank Sullivan. Betty was one of the first women to graduate from the University of Kansas Business School. Harold claimed he met Betty in class. Betty had a different story. She said it was at a dance for the returning service men. We always believed her. Betty and Harold were married at the Chapel on KU’s campus on Feb. 7, 1947, a little more than a year after Harold returned from Europe.
After graduation from Kansas’s Business School, Harold began working for his father-in-law at the Kansas Department of Insurance in Topeka, Kan., while he and Betty continued to reside in Lawrence. They moved to an apartment on the Plaza in Kansas City in 1951. Harold started in the life insurance business with New England Mutual Life. He went on to become the General Agent for National Life of Vermont.
Among other organizations, he was a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table, CLU and the Estate Planning Counsel of Kansas City. Harold enjoyed a lifelong career in the life insurance business, which he later shared with two of his sons, Gary and Michael. He was particularly thankful for the people that his work brought him to know and serve personally and professionally.
In addition to the love for their family and spending time with them, Harold and Betty loved to dance and listen to music. He was a member of the Carriage Club and the Vanguard Breakfast Club. It was seldom that they missed an opportunity to hear live music or attend a dance, Harold in his tux and Betty in a pretty gown until Betty’s death in 2010. Harold and Betty were longtime active members of the Country Club Christian Church on Ward Parkway. Their faith was an integral part of their lives and was reflected in their participation and contributions to many charitable organizations.
Harold was predeceased in death by his wife Betty and almost everyone else he knew. Not a bad life. He served his country, his family, his community. Harold will be missed dearly by his family. He is survived by his four sons, Harold Merritt (Joan), Frank Neil, Gary Tucker (Janet) and Michael Allen (Kit Smith); five grandchildren: Gregory Sullivan (Maggie), Peter Edward (Lindsay), Scott (Andy), Michael and Madeline; and four great-grandchildren: Charlie, Zooey, Annie and Eleanor. Dad is also survived by Judy Smith who the family could not be more thankful for her friendship and devotion to his care for the past 10 years.
A private service and burial will be held for the family. Contributions in Harold’s name may be made to the First Christian Church of Pleasanton, 613 Main St., Pleasanton, Kan. 66075.
OBITUARIES
Dale W. Cobbs ~ 05-05-1945 to 07-18-2024
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Linn County News Published July 24 2024 Dale W. Cobbs, age 79, of Bush City, Kan., passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at St. Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kan. Dale Wayne Cobbs was born on May 5, 1945, he was the second son born to Everett Wayne... [More]
James E. Wright ~ 01-07-1933 to 07-21-2024
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Linn County News Published July 24, 2024 James E. Wright, age 91, Mound City, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 21, 2024. Visitation will be held 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel. Memorial contributions... [More]
Roland L. Weir 07-09-1946 to 07-07-2024
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Linn County News Published July 17, 2024 Roland L. Weir, age 77, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away in Yates Center, Kan., on July 7, 2024. He was born the son of Beulah Bledsoe on July 9, 1946, in La Cygne, Kan. Growing up and living in La Cygne all his life,... [More]
More Obituaries
- Edward Floyd “Ed” Maloney 10-14-1928 to 07-04-2024
- Betty Alice Smith Fyock 11-02-1931 to 07-04-2024
- Clarence William “Bill” Craven 06-26-1945 to 07-03-2024
- Rolleen Diann Stites 08-12-1950 to 07-04-2024
- Sa’Faree Nicole Woodberry ~ 02-14-2024 to 06-26-2024
- Billy Sherwin Hardesty ~ 04-07-1941 to 06-27-2024
- Darlene M. (Oetting) Fischer ~ 02-02-1931 to 06-27-2024
- Neal Edward Mathews ~ 10-14-1938 to 06-29-2024
NEWS
Commissioners discuss adding new position
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During the course of the July 22 meeting the commissioners and Public Works Administrator Shaun West discussed the possibility of adding a position of County Administrator. The discussion began with West noting that the Road and Bridge budget would be dependent on whether or... [More]
Work progresses on USD 362 daycare
Facility will carry the name of ‘Little Buffs’ Daycare Work to renovate Unified School District 362’s former bus barn into a preschool child daycare facility continues to progress toward a goal of being ready when classes begin next month. Financial... [More]
Political forum scheduled for Thursday
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The 2024 Primary Election is scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 6, and with that the Linn County News Political Primary Forum is scheduled for Thursday, July 25 at 6 p.m. The forum will feature local candidates, state and national candidates or their representatives. It will be held at... [More]
More News
- USD 346 accepts donations, bids Farm-to-Plate initiative
- Survey for guardrail improvements to begin at Mound City
- Commissioners set evening meeting on last week of the month
- USD 362 to notify revenue exceedance
- Parker to submit exceedance resolution
- Tempers flare during commissioners meeting
- Pleasanton approves land sale resolution
- Legalese complicates La Cygne items
SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team makes finals at Nationals
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The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Mason, Mich. from July 12-14 to compete in the USA High School Clay Target League (USAHSCTL) National Championship. The team performed well both as an individual and a team. The action started on July 12 as Pleasanton/Jayhawk... [More]
Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team places second at TRL tournament
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The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team and Pleasanton 2 girls’ coach pitch team competed in the Three Rivers League girls’ coach pitch tournament at Bronson on July 5-6. Pleasanton 1 did not participate in the tournament. Pleasanton 2 was the four seed in... [More]
More Sports
- Pleasanton T-Ball hosts Three Rivers League boys’ T-Ball tournament
- Local ball players make Sports In Kansas All State teams
- Prairie View students receive spring kudos
- 2024 All Linn County Softball team
- 2024 All Linn County Baseball team
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk Linn trapshooting team competes at State Tournament
- Prairie View trapshooting JV team places second at State
- Mound City hosts youth fishing derby
OBITUARIES POLICY
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