Charles Joseph Gossett

Charles Joseph “Skip” Gossett, 91, of Speedway, Indiana, passed away July 26, 2024, in Indianapolis, surrounded by family.

Charles was born June 30, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Joseph and Sally (Moeller) Gossett. The Gossett family moved to Norris City, Illinois, when Charles was a young age, and he attended Norris City High School, where he played basketball and baseball and ran track.

Charles began dating his future wife, Patricia Joan Spence, after she started working at the Green Mill restaurant owned by his father. The two went to a movie on their first date Christmas night 1953 in a yellow Buick convertible loaned to Charles by his cousin Art.

Charles graduated high school in 1951, continuing his education first at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where he graduated four years later with a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology. 

The next year, on Feb. 19, 1956, Charles and Patricia were united in marriage at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Norris City, marking the beginning of a 68-year loving partnership.

The couple first moved to Champaign, Illinois, where Charles earned a Master’s Degree in Geology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Less than four months after his August 1957 graduation, he began his service in the United States Army. The couple eventually relocated to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Army Map Service. 

After he served two years in the Army, Charles and Joan moved to Tallahassee, Florida, and later Lexington, Kentucky. It was there that the couple welcomed their first child, Tricia, in 1964. The next year, the family moved to the Speedway neighborhood where they would spend the next 59 years, and welcomed their second child, Caroline, in 1966. 

Charles spent 34 years working with the USDA Soil Conservation Service, working in every county in Indiana and rising to the role of Assistant State Conservationist for the State of Indiana.

After the couple’s retirement in 1995, they traveled extensively with friends and Charles found his next chapter as “Daddad” to his four grandchildren, with whom he shared his passions for rock collecting, pen making, photography, music and sports. 

He also shared his love of travel, taking several trips out west with family, including to Grand Teton National Park, as well as Yellowstone National Park to celebrate the couple’s 55th wedding anniversary in 2011. Family was always Charles’ first priority, and he spent decades attending his grandchildren’s events, from soccer and baseball games to dance recitals, holiday concerts and numerous school events.

Charles was a member of Speedway Christian Church, Masons Lodge #0718 in Norris City, the Geological Society of America and the Association of Retired Conservation Service Employees.

Charles is survived by Patricia, daughters Tricia (Tim) Brown and Caroline (Steve) Cork, and grandchildren Chris Brown, Danny Cork, Ben Brown and Abby Cork. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Warren G. Gossett, and cousin Art Bunker and his wife, Norene.

Visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Flanner-Buchanan Speedway, 2950 N. High School Road, Speedway, Indiana. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., followed by burial at West Ridge Park Cemetery. 

Donations in Charles’ memory can be made to Speedway Christian Church, 5110 W. 14th Street, Speedway, Indiana.