Charles A. "Andy" Gouvion, 81, of Pittsburg, went to be with our Lord at 3:45 p.m., Saturday, December 11, 2010, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, following complications due to surgery.
He was born December 24, 1928, in South Mound, Neosho County, Kansas, to Francis J. "Pete" and Cecilia (Steinbacher) Gouvion. As a young boy, he grew up in South Mound where he attended Mentor Grade School and was a graduate of St. Francis High School in St. Paul.
In 1952, after farming for a number of years, he entered the United States Army where he served for two years in the Signal Corps in South Korea. While serving his country, he earned the United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, ROK Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked for the Farm Census for two years and then in the Chemistry Department at Pittsburg State University where he met his future wife.
He and Zella Lawr Branson were married November 24, 1965, in Columbus, Kansas. In 1973, he started a delivery service, Andy's Parcel Delivery. He delivered for the local drug stores, the elderly, and newspapers for The Morning Sun for many years.
He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church where he had previously belonged to Our Lady's Prayer Group, the Prayer Line, the Knights of Columbus, and had spent many hours in the Adoration chapel. He was also a member of the Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post No. 64 in Pittsburg and lifetime member of the VFW.
He had a genuine love for children and in earlier years was active in 4-H. Through the years he also assisted his wife with daycare and was a licensed daycare provider.
Survivors include:
Wife – Zella Gouvion of the home
Three Sons – Tony Branson and wife, Christy Greenbrier, AR
Ralph Gouvion and wife, Lisa Pittsburg, KS
Kenny Gouvion and wife, Carla Pittsburg, KS
One Daughter – Tommie Forbes and husband, Joe Pat Parsons, KS
Seventeen Grandchildren
Twenty-six Great-Grandchildren
One Great-Great-Grandson
One Brother – Harold Gouvion Lenexa, KS
He was preceded in death by one sister, Leonilla Gouvion, CSJ.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 15, 2010, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery with military honors given by Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post No. 64. The Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the church where the Parish rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the Parish rosary.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Colgan Schools. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles A. "Andy" Gouvion, please visit our flower store.
He was born December 24, 1928, in South Mound, Neosho County, Kansas, to Francis J. "Pete" and Cecilia (Steinbacher) Gouvion. As a young boy, he grew up in South Mound where he attended Mentor Grade School and was a graduate of St. Francis High School in St. Paul.
In 1952, after farming for a number of years, he entered the United States Army where he served for two years in the Signal Corps in South Korea. While serving his country, he earned the United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, ROK Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked for the Farm Census for two years and then in the Chemistry Department at Pittsburg State University where he met his future wife.
He and Zella Lawr Branson were married November 24, 1965, in Columbus, Kansas. In 1973, he started a delivery service, Andy's Parcel Delivery. He delivered for the local drug stores, the elderly, and newspapers for The Morning Sun for many years.
He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church where he had previously belonged to Our Lady's Prayer Group, the Prayer Line, the Knights of Columbus, and had spent many hours in the Adoration chapel. He was also a member of the Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post No. 64 in Pittsburg and lifetime member of the VFW.
He had a genuine love for children and in earlier years was active in 4-H. Through the years he also assisted his wife with daycare and was a licensed daycare provider.
Survivors include:
Wife – Zella Gouvion of the home
Three Sons – Tony Branson and wife, Christy Greenbrier, AR
Ralph Gouvion and wife, Lisa Pittsburg, KS
Kenny Gouvion and wife, Carla Pittsburg, KS
One Daughter – Tommie Forbes and husband, Joe Pat Parsons, KS
Seventeen Grandchildren
Twenty-six Great-Grandchildren
One Great-Great-Grandson
One Brother – Harold Gouvion Lenexa, KS
He was preceded in death by one sister, Leonilla Gouvion, CSJ.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 15, 2010, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery with military honors given by Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post No. 64. The Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the church where the Parish rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the Parish rosary.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Colgan Schools. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles A. "Andy" Gouvion, please visit our flower store.
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