A Rose for you from my wife Eve and me.
Posted on 11/12/2001 5:32:43 PM PST by 91B
My grandfather Samuel Carter Gouge passed away this afternoon at the VA hospital in Asheville, NC. With JimRob's indulgence I would like to post a brief obituary here on FR where it can be read by the finest collection of patriots I can think of.
Sam C. Gouge of Bakersville, NC died today at the Veteran's Administration hospital in Asheville, he was 85. Born in 1916 and named for his grandfather, a Civil war veteran of the third NC mounted infantry regiment of the Army of the Cumberland, Gouge was the son of a veteran of the Phillipine campaign in the Spanish-American war.
He graduated from Tipton Hill high school where he played basketball and baseball and worked in Gates City, Virginia until being drafted into the Army in 1942.
After training at Camp Wheeler in Macon, Georgia Gouge was sent overseas to Italy where he served with the 88th Infantry division. In November of 1944 Gouge was wounded in combat and evacuated to France where he served out the remainder of the war. Gouge earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal and European, Mediterranean and North African campaign medal.
Upon leaving the service in 1946 Gouge, a lifelong Republican, was elected Sheriff of Mitchell County, NC-a post he would hold until 1966. Gouge would consistently win reelection to office, often without opposition.
Gouge was a 2 handicap golfer and in the early 1970s he won the club championship at Grassy Creek Country Club-the Rhodedendron open.
Sam Gouge was an avid Republican partisan and he served on the NC state board of corrections during the administration of Gov. Jim Martin. He leaves behind his wife, Lois Gouge, three daughters, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A Rose for you from my wife Eve and me.
My deepest sympathy on your loss. My grandpa was my hero, too.
In the midst of the Great Depression he lost his wife during childbirth. He went on and raised six kids, working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and then doing carpentry work on the side in his 'free' time.
He never wore a military uniform, but he was one heck of a leader.
He taught me the beauty and serenity of the simple things in life. He was one with nature and could grow ANYTHING.
When I was a kid in the early 60's, I heard the word 'abortion' on TV and I asked him what that meant. He simply said, "It's when a mother KILLS her baby while it is still in her womb. It is a sin. It is ABSOLUTELY WRONG!". That really struck me hard that these women would even think about killing their own child, and then talk about it being their RIGHT. I think it hurt him so deeply, as he lost his wife during the childbirth of his last child.
His words were never 'flaky'. He spoke the truth from his heart.
I named the first of my twin sons after him.
I miss him, but I visit with him everyday in my heart.
I hope you keep you granfather alive in your heart everyday.
With my deepest condolences,
Norb
I unexpectedly lost all three of my remaining grandparents in 1999 within a 10 month period.
He sounds like he was a wonderful man.
May God bless and comfort you during this difficult time.
MKM
That is so true, thank you for saying that.
Appy-when I was little his home was heaven for me.
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