Thomas Howard Goswick

Thomas Howard Goswick a resident of Cleveland was born September 10, 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Jess Lee and Carolea (White) Goswick. The family lived in West Tulsa Area and later moved to Prue where Tom graduated in 1967. After high school Tom enrolled at Draughon Business School in Tulsa. Shortly after he finished at Draughon, Tom enlisted in the United States Air Force. While serving in the Air Force Tom worked on communications equipment. He also met the love of his life, Kathy. After his discharge from the United States Air Force, Tom was united in marriage to Kathryn Anne Proksell on November 11, 1972 in Wichita Falls, Texas. They made their initial home in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Upon moving to Cleveland, Tom accepted employment at the U.S. Post Office. He later transferred to the Tulsa office where he worked as a mechanic on the mail processing equipment. After 31 years Tom retired in February of 2004.

Tom was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Cleveland. He loved building model cars, riding motorcycles, watching football, and NASCAR Racing. Tom got his pilotís licenses at the age of 15. He also had a passion for flying his hang glider, attending air shows and especially enjoyed riding trains.

Tom went to be with his Lord and Saviour Sunday, November 28, 2004 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 55 years 2 months and 18 days.

Survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathy Goswick of the home; one son, Joshua R. Goswick of the home; one daughter, Sara A. Goswick of the home; mother Carolea Goswick of Osage, Oklahoma; sister Cathy Lawrence of Bristow, Oklahoma as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 4, 2004 at 2:00 pm at The First Assembly of God, officiated by Rev. Dan Edens and Rev. Ronald Wuerch. Burial will be at Woodland Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.

Visit an online Video Tribute, obituary and guestbook for Tom Goswick at www.chapman-black.com.

I've never written a eulogy before but I hope my words will stir the soul of at least one person here to make him or her realize that everyone must go through the 'end of life' experience and we are the only ones responsible for making that experience a thing to dread or a thing to anticipate with extraordinary peace of mind.

So don't feel sorry for me because you may think that I 'died too young' or 'suffered too much'.

You can feel sympathy for my family, though, because they are the ones that will have their lives drastically changed by my passing.

(READ THE NEXT PARTS WITH A SMILE!)

Wife Kathy will now be responsible for putting the correct bill payment check into the correct payment envelope.

Daughter Sara won't have dad around to help her as she writes her best selling sci-fi novel. Remember Sara, the owls are going to be called the sentinals.

Son Joshua won't have the old man yelling at him because he isn't perfect 'like his daddy was'. Actually, Joshua, I am proud of you. You are a good, soft-hearted loving son.

Sister Cathy won't have 'little brother' here for 'big sister' to buy the cute little gifts for because 'Tommy will like this.'

And Mema, just because 'she's my mom.'

Seriously, do feel gladness for me because I am a believer and I knew that death was the only way that I would be able to see our Lord 'face to face', to feel his loving embrace, to worship 'at His feet'. To be able to have an existence without pain, suffering, fear, guilt, etc. A 'life after life' without the influence of this world and its godlessness, immoratlity, selfishness, and man's inhumane treatment of his fellowman.

Do feel sorry for yourselves because you are still 'here', that you still have to deal with this world and all of its inherent daily problems, pressures, and stressful situations. Friends, I don't envy you at all.

Today, before I started writing this, I was in my bedroom listening to a Bill Gaither concert on T.V. While those beautiful voices sang, ' The Old Rugged Cross' I started to cry; not because I felt 'sorry for myself', but because I knew that there was hope because of Jesus' sacrifice for His children, that there was 'Something Better'.

Thank you for being here today for my family.

I want all of you here today to do a couple of things for me 'in my memory'. The first thing I would like for you to do is after you get back home from my funeral service is to sit down and reflect on you relationship with our Lord God, and the second thing I want you to do is to attend at least one church service within the next week. Not much to ask, is it?

Love you all in Jesus' name.
Thomas Howard Goswick