Chester F. Gaugler

Chester F. Gaugler, age 94, 833 Lightstreet Road, Bloomsburg, died May 18, 2016 at Geisinger Columbia Montour Hospice at Maria Hall, Danville.

He was born on August 30, 1921 in Selinsgrove, a son of the late Leon F. and Margaret V. (Hendricks) Gaugler. He was a 1939 graduate of Selinsgrove High School and attended Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove and Texas A & M, College Station, Texas. He resided in Bloomsburg for 60 years.

Mr. Gaugler was a US Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, having enlisted and trained as an aviation cadet in aerial navigation. He was an avid golfer for many years and played mostly at the  Briar Heights Golf Course, currently known as Willow Run. He also enjoyed travel, gardening, furniture refinishing and restoration of his almost 200 year old home.

He served both as Youth Superintendent and Adult Superintendent at Wesley United Methodist Church, Bloomsburg, earlier in his life. He retired in 1986 from the Danville State Hospital, where he served as custodial services manager.

Mr. Gaugler was a life member of the Valley of Bloomsburg Post 273, American Legion and also of the Selman Field Historical Association (the World War II Army Air Corps navigation school). He also belonged to the Sons of the American Revolution and was a life member of the Snyder County Historical Society.

He served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 25, Bloomsburg and as Roundtable Commissioner over a 20 year period. He was awarded the Scouter’s Key and was a member of the Order of the Arrow.

Chester was loved by all who knew him. He is survived by two sons: Frank of Chambersburg and Dean of Fairfield, Conn.;  and  a daughter, Karin, Barrington Hills, Ill. He was the beloved grandfather of Stephen and Matthew, Chambersburg; Cherie of Middletown; and Brian,  Geoffrey and Rachel, Fairfield, Conn.. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Rachel, Middletown and Abigail and Gabriel of Chambersburg; and a  brother, Charles Gaugler, who resides in Rowlett, Texas. Other survivors include nieces and nephews.

Chester’s first wife and mother of Frank was the former Betty Anderson. Kathryn Lindsay, Chester’s second wife and mother of Dean and Karin, preceded him in death. The former Laura Fleming, his wife of 45 years, preceded him in death on April 23, 2001. After Laura’s death, Chester found his final love in Willie Wagner, Selinsgrove.

We trust the editors of the Press Enterprise are breathing a sigh of relief in that they will no longer be barraged by letters to the editor or 30 second snippets from Chet.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, 2016, in the Dean W. Kriner, Inc. Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.  The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m.  Following the service, there will be a reception at the Barn at Boones Dam, Bloomsburg. In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated and buried in Union Cemetery, Selinsgrove.

Memorial contributions may be sent to either the Children’s Glaucoma Foundation, 2 Longfellow Drive, Suite 201, Boston, Mass. 02114  or to the Geisinger Columbia Montour Home Hospice, 410 Glenn Avenue, Bloomsburg, Pa 17815.