Robert Lyle Gossett

Robert L. (Bob) Gossett, 89, of Fort Mill (formerly of Charlotte) died peacefully November 19, 2015 at CMC Pineville, NC. A private graveside service will be conducted by Pastor Carol Carkin of Sedgefield United Methodist Church (UMC).A service of remembrance will be held at Sedgefield UMC on Sunday, November 22 at 1 p.m. with the family welcoming friends and visitors at a reception following the service. Bob and his family joined St. Paul U.M.C. (now Sedgefield) in 1953 and he held many offices during that time, the most significant being the “temporary teacher” of the Men’s Bible Class for some 30 years. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Lena Gossett of Brewster, Ohio; his wife Eleanor, his high school honey, after nearly 48 years of marriage; his only son Steve; and all three older siblings, Gene, Opal, and Bill. Bob is survived by his three daughters, Susan (Jim) Campbell of Indian Land, Sharon Gossett of Rock Hill, and Sondra (Jerry) Haley of St. Johns, FL, and grandchildren Kelly and Jimmy Campbell and Jenna and Jordan Haley.Bob, a physical therapist, was a native of Brewster, Ohio, a graduate of the University of Dayton (OH), with physical therapy studies at the Cleveland Clinic and a Master’s degree from UNC Chapel Hill. After working in general physical therapy practice in Euclid, OH, he was associated with the Spastics Hospital, later becoming the Charlotte Rehabilitation Hospital as Director of Rehabilitation and Assistant Administrator from 1953 to 1964. From 1965 to 1988 he was on the faculty of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in Charlotte where he developed and led the first Physical Therapist Assistant Program in NC, which served as a pilot program for later programs. Later he also served as Department Head of Allied Health programs. Bob was the recipient of many honors from both the NCPTA and the American Physical Therapy Association. Upon his retirement, a scholarship at CPCC was named in his and his wife Eleanor’s honor. Bob was a veteran of the Air Corps in World War II and served in the Philippines. He has been an active volunteer with the Upper Palmetto Chapter of the Red Cross and the handicapped (now Exceptional) riding programs of Springs Farms in Fort Mill.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Robert L. & Eleanor Gossett Scholarship Fund, c/o CPCC Foundation, P.O. Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235; the NCPTA Scholarship & Loan Fund, 316 West Milbrook Road - Suite 165, Raleigh, NC 27609; or the Barbara L. Carter Scholarship Fund, Sedgefield U.M.C., 2830 Dorchester Place, Charlotte, NC 28209.Read Obituary