Gwendolyn Gooch

Gwendolyn Sprott Gooch was born on June 29, 1923, to Nathan H. Sprott, Sr. and Addie Connell Sprott, on farm and ranch land in the Killeen, Texas area. She was the youngest of three children, having two older brothers, Nathan H. Sprott, Jr., and Billy Mack Sprott. At the age of 3, her family moved into town then back to the country again during the Depression in order to make a living raising sheep and cattle. Gwen loved the wide-open spaces on the ranch, playing with cousins who lived nearby, riding horses and attending school. Growing up, she and her brother N.H. and cousin Virginia Sprott often sang for church and school functions and even for the radio on occasion. Wallace Gooch entered Gwen’s life during her High School years, when he came to Killeen from Springfield, Missouri, to work for the Church of Christ there. Wally quickly became best friends with N.H. and Billy Mack and was later referred to by her father as “my other son”. Gwen remembers…”everytime I would turn around, there would be Wally Gooch smiling at me.” But it wasn’t until Gwen graduated from High School in 1940 that Wally made his intentions known. In Gwen’s words… “he had waited for me to grow up a little, then made his move…and what a move!”. They married in 1941. She said in a letter later written to her sons, “I can’t imagine young life without him. I thought he was the smartest young man that was ever born. Especially in the things that made life what God would have it be. I thank God for him daily.” Wally and Gwen were blessed with three sons, Richard Wallace Gooch, Edward Mack Gooch and Steven Allen Gooch. While raising a young family and serving as a preacher’s wife, Gwen also determined to complete a degree in music and later taught piano students in her home. Over their lifetime together, she and Wally served Churches of Christ in Gateville, Dallas, Temple, Waco, Victoria, Austin, and Altus (Okla.). While at the South Waco Church of Christ in 1972, Wally went to his heavenly home following complications of heart by-pass surgery. In 1980, Gwen moved back to Temple and took care of her father until his death at the age of 95. She continued to reside in Temple, teaching hundreds of piano students and also worked as a Mary Kay Independent Consultant. For a short while she also did some work for the Lubbock Children’s Home. In 2006, Gwen moved to Longview, Texas, to be close to her middle son, Eddie and his wife Mary. Gwendolyn Sprott Gooch, surrounded by her loving family, made her departure to her heavening home on Sunday, May 4, 2014, where she went to meet her Savior. She was eagerly reunited with her husband Wally, her mother and father, her brothers and her grandson, Steven Wallace Gooch, among other close relatives who had gone on before her. She is lovingly remembered by her sons Dick, Eddie and Steve, their wives Karen, Mary and Betsy, seven grandchildren (Wendy, Abbie, Clint, Austin, Dillon, Weston and Morgan) and seven great-grandchildren (Caleb, McKenzie, Ellie, Deacon, Kate, Caroline and Brynlee). We are confident that she has heard the words of her Savior, “Well-done, good and faithful servant.” Memorials may be made to the Medina Children's Home or to a church ministry of your choice.

Gwendolyn Gooch

June 23, 1923 - May 4, 2014