Herbert Dewitt Goss

Herbert Dewitt "Charlie" Goss, a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, and a 32nd Mason, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family and loved ones on Christmas morning. He was 84 years of age. Charlie was born in California while his parents were working. Charlie returned with his parents, Nora and Herbert Goss to the family farm near Richard, Louisiana, where he grew up. He joined the Merchant Marine and saw the world, visiting India and other exotic locales. While attending LSU, the Korean Conflict began. He enlisted in the Air Force where he served honorably as a trained meteorologist. His service to his country included two years in Korea during the conflict. He returned after his service to establish a career as an Independent Petroleum landman in Lafayette and the Southwest part of Louisiana. He actively participated in the discovery and development of a number of oil and gas fields over the next 60 years. He was associated with Power Rig Drilling Inc. and Great Southern Oil and Gas. He started his own transportation company, Ball Marketing, Inc., which transported crude oil and distilled products around the State of Louisiana. He was President of Ball Marketing, Inc. until his death. In addition to these endeavors, he built and briefly ran a small refinery on the Mermentau River until he sold it to a Texas oil and gas entity. During his career in the oil industry, he never forgot his service to God and the poor. He regularly attended and supported Pilgrim's Rest Baptist Church and donated freely to organizations in need. He was particularly generous with children in need, including a donation to a crippled children's hospital in Central, Ohio, to whom he donated and transported 7,500 gallons of fuel oil during one particularly frigid winter. He also donated an Arabian stallion which was auctioned off. The proceeds were donated to the Shriner's Hospital for Children. In addition to his generosity, he was well known and loved for his humor and gift of storytelling, keeping his family and friends amused by the stories of his childhood and travels. He raised Arabian horses and at one time had one of the finest stables in the state. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Bette B. Goss, who never left his side during his life nor during his last illness. He left five children, Harry W. Goss, Susan Goss, Charlie Brandt, Patricia Brandt, and Ruth Brandt Norris, all of whom will miss him dearly. He had eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon, a Masonic service will be held in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers followed by visitation at gravesite from 1:30 pm until service at 2:30 pm at Pilgrim's Rest Baptist Church Cemetery. Personal condolences may be sent to the Goss family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Herbert Dewitt Goss

July 7, 1927 - December 25, 2011