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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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1928 - 2004 (76 years)