Col. Robert Gosney

Colonel Robert Gosney, 92 of Belton, passed away peacefully at the Texas State Veterans Home in Temple on 13 November 2024. Col Gosney was a cherished husband, a loving father of four, a leader in his church and community, and a decorated veteran who served in the Vietnam War and spent over 30 years on active duty in the US Army. He lived a life defined by service to his family, his community, and his nation.

Robert Russell Gosney was born on 21 December 1931 in Junction, Texas to Russell Gosney and Nettie Wright. He grew up with his brothers Bill and Gary in Fort Worth, Texas and was a star athlete at Handley High School in Fort Worth where he met the love of his life, Thelma Jean Hefner. They were married from 18 August 1950 and recently celebrated their 74 th wedding anniversary.

Col and Mrs. Gosney moved to College Station where he played football for Texas A&M while earning his degree and a commission in the US Army in 1954. After several field artillery assignments, Col Gosney won his wings as an Army aviator and flew a wide variety of aircraft. He served two tours in Vietnam as a UH-1 Huey helicopter pilot, including a year as the commander of the 25 th Infantry Division Aviation Battalion. For his combat service he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, and 29 Air Medals (two with devices for Valor). His citations and eyewitness accounts detail how his leadership and bravery saved hundreds of lives, including his brother Gary’s life.

Col Gosney’s distinguished career concluded with two notable positions as a senior leader. He was stationed in Monrovia as the Chief of the Military Mission to Liberia in 1980 when a violent coup d’etat erupted and his leadership again saved lives when he personally intervened to establish calm and order for the country. Finally, Col Gosney was the principal staff officer for community relations at Fort Hood before his retirement from the Army in 1984.

Col Gosney’s service to his community was unbroken after retirement. He was a local business owner, a 38-year member of the Temple Founder Lions Club, on the Parish Council at Christ the King Catholic Church in Belton, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He loved Aggie football, his four-legged companions, but most of all, his family.

To his family, he was Dad, Grandad, GG. He was the voice cheering at the game, the backyard cook, the pool cleaner, the RV driver, the benefactor of countless trips to Red River New Mexico, the patriarch at the annual Wright Reunion. No one could tell a story like he could. Whether recounting hilarious moments of family history or spinning a yarn to put the grandkids to sleep, he gathered a crowd. He sacrificed and lived through terrors and war, but to his final day he was known for his quick and perpetual smile, bright eyes, and soft touch.

Col Gosney is survived by his wife Jean of Belton, his brother Dr. Gary Gosney DVM of Temple, and his children: Pamela and her husband David Fette of Belton, Molly and her husband Ronald White of Sonora, Mark and his wife Nicole Gosney of Belton, Amy and her husband Eddy Lange of Moody. Col and Mrs. Gosney have eight grandchildren, Russell Fette and his wife Carrie, Elizabeth Rogers and her husband Ed, Robert White and his wife Erin, Tyrell White and his wife Shelli, Natalie Rabel and her husband Jeremy, Elahu Gosney Sustaric and his wife Riia, Jahia Sustarsic, Clinton Lange, and 23 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Russell Laurelle Gosney and Nettie Emma Wright, and his older brother William (Bill) Conrad Gosney and Bill’s wife Mary Lynn (Brooks) Gosney.

A visitation will be held from 6:30 – 7:00 PM, a wake service at 7:00 PM, followed by a family rosary service, on Wednesday 20 November 2024 at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton.

Funeral mass will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday 21 October 2024 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Belton Texas, followed by graveside services at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church.

Our family would welcome any messages or memories you would like to share by emailing [email protected] .