Charles M. (Mel) Gosney
Mel (94) passed away peacefully in his sleep February 17, 2016 in his home in Rochester.
Mel was born in Marshfield (Coos Bay) Oregon to Clyde O. and Emaline (Knight) Gosney on July 22, 1921. He was the youngest of 8 children. He grew up in Coos Bay and graduated from Marshfield High in 1939. He attended the U of W and San Fransisco City College.
Mel became a 1st Lieutenant in WWII and served as a B-29 pilot in the Army Aircorp, flying 35 combat missions in the Pacific. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 3 Air Medals, 2 Distinguished Unit Citations, and the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars.
Mel came to Washington in 1939 where he spent most of his adult life. He became a licensed professional civil engineer, spending 28 ½ years with the WA State Department of Transportation and designed numerous road projects and oversaw many road and bridge jobs, retiring as Administrative Construction Engineer at the headquarters office in Olympia.
After retiring, he got adventurous and he and his home-body wife moved to American Samoa where he spent 3 years as General Manager for a construction firm.
Mel enjoyed bowling, golfing, wood working and Sunday afternoon Cribbage with his daughter Ginny.
He spent nearly 60 years of his life in Lacey in the same house, and in 2014 had moved in with his daughter, Ginny and son-in-law Bruce. His mind was quick and strong and he completed the Olympian crossword puzzle every morning with little or no help up until a week or so before his death.
Mel married Genevieve E. Hendricks on May 15, 1948, who pre-deceased him on Dec. 30, 1993. He lost his daughter, Mary Yarboro to cancer last year, but is survived by 2 sons, Terry (Tulsa, OK) and Mark (Poulsbo, WA), three daughters Patty Meldrum (Ypsilanti, MI), Ginny Jory (Rochester, WA), and Jenine Gillie (Tooele, UT), as well as 21 Grandkids, 42 great Grandkids and 3 great-great Grandkids.
A graveside service will be held for Mel on Monday, February 22 at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 5930 Mullen Road in Lacey, WA at 10 am.
Family and friends are invited to attend a luncheon in Rochester following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society or The Old Dog Haven.
