WOOSTER – Ross Hayward Gooch, 81, of Wooster, passed away Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at West View Healthy Living from complications of Alzheimer’s.
He was born February 12, 1933 in Lebanon, Indiana, the son of Darrell and Ruth (Kattman) Gooch and grew up in Indiana.
Ross was a 1950 graduate of Howe High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and a 1954 graduate of The College of Wooster where he met his wife, Cynthia (Stetson) Gooch whom he married on June 26, 1954.   She preceded him in death on February 8, 2013.
He earned a Masters of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary and an MA in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary.   He was a Presbyterian minister serving congregations in Chicago, IL, Watseka, IL, Hopewell, IN, Pleasantville, NY, Neenah, WI, Bloomfield Hills, MI and Loudonville, OH.   He also served as interim pastor at Churches in Iberia, Lexington, Galion and Bucyrus, OH.
He was a long time member of the Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators and the Great Lakes Association of Presbyterian Christian  Educators.   He served as the Stated Clerk of the Muskingum Valley Presbytery for 15 years.   Over the years he held memberships in Optimist Club and Rotary International.   He was a past-president of the Loudonville Rotary Club.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, John Gooch, his parents and his son, Paul Gooch.   Surviving are children Ruth Goode of Madison Heights, Michigan, Lois (Greg) Marler of Naples, Florida and Mark (Cheryl) Gooch of Wooster; grandchildren, Meghan Gooch, Emily Waites, Leah Goode, Brian and Justin Marler and Peter and Jacob Gooch; great-grandchildren, Aiden Lema, Stella Mae Waites and Lillyan Nielsen.
A celebration of his life will be held in Mackey Hall at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wooster, Ohio on Sunday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. with the Reverends Andries Coetzee and Christopher Stewart presiding.   The family will receive visitors following the service.
The family would like to express thanks to the staffs of West View Healthy Living and LifeCare Hospice.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Buckhorn Children’s Home, 116 Buckhorn Lane, Buckhorn, KY 41721.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
 

Memorial Contributions
Buckhorn Children’s Home, 116 Buckhorn Lane, Buckhorn, NY 41721

Service
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. in Mackey Hall at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 353 E. Pine St., Wooster.

Visitation
Family will receive friends following the service