1943 - 2016
MILFORD - Richard Earl Gohde, 72, of Tansey Hill Road in Milford, passed away Sunday morning, August 7, 2016, at A.O. Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta.
He was born August 17, 1943, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, a son of Earl and Dorothy (Butler) Gohde.
Raised on the family farm in Middlefield Dick graduated from Cherry Valley High School with the Class of 1961, and then attended the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill where he earned an associate's degree in animal husbandry in 1963.
Dick was head of the Clark Estates sheep farm, but then moved to Greene to be an artificial inseminator. He decided to move back closer to home and became head of Sears tire and carpet installation, and also worked as an independent contractor with his brother, Doug Gohde. He later went to work for Bassett Healthcare as a painter in the maintenance department and retired from there after 25 years of employment.
In his leisure he enjoyed reading, especially books about cowboys. Dick had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a quick come back waiting. He will be missed by many.
On August 19, 1999, he married Laura M. Hitchcock in a ceremony at the Middlefield home of Justice of the Peace Raymond E. Burr, Sr. In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by six children, Melissa Moore of Fly Creek, Gordon Sparaco of Morris, Keith Gohde of Texas, Kevin Gohde of Florida, Heather Gohde of Oregon and Rebecca Gohde of Otego; a brother, Doug Gohde (Anne) of Schenevus; a sister, Linda Nitz (Richard) of Troy; a sister-in-law, Kathryn Thayer Gohde of the Town of Middlefield; as well as several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his brother, Kim M. Gohde, who died August 1, 2016.
A funeral service will be offered at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 12, 2016, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, with the Rev. Ronald Fralick, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cherry Valley, officiating. The service of committal and burial will follow in Middlefield Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Richard's family suggests that donations in his memory be directed to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
He was born August 17, 1943, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, a son of Earl and Dorothy (Butler) Gohde.
Raised on the family farm in Middlefield Dick graduated from Cherry Valley High School with the Class of 1961, and then attended the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill where he earned an associate's degree in animal husbandry in 1963.
Dick was head of the Clark Estates sheep farm, but then moved to Greene to be an artificial inseminator. He decided to move back closer to home and became head of Sears tire and carpet installation, and also worked as an independent contractor with his brother, Doug Gohde. He later went to work for Bassett Healthcare as a painter in the maintenance department and retired from there after 25 years of employment.
In his leisure he enjoyed reading, especially books about cowboys. Dick had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a quick come back waiting. He will be missed by many.
On August 19, 1999, he married Laura M. Hitchcock in a ceremony at the Middlefield home of Justice of the Peace Raymond E. Burr, Sr. In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by six children, Melissa Moore of Fly Creek, Gordon Sparaco of Morris, Keith Gohde of Texas, Kevin Gohde of Florida, Heather Gohde of Oregon and Rebecca Gohde of Otego; a brother, Doug Gohde (Anne) of Schenevus; a sister, Linda Nitz (Richard) of Troy; a sister-in-law, Kathryn Thayer Gohde of the Town of Middlefield; as well as several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his brother, Kim M. Gohde, who died August 1, 2016.
A funeral service will be offered at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 12, 2016, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, with the Rev. Ronald Fralick, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cherry Valley, officiating. The service of committal and burial will follow in Middlefield Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Richard's family suggests that donations in his memory be directed to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
