Robert “Rob” Clarence Goth, 98, passed away peacefully at his home at Springtide Farm in Bremen early the morning of Feb. 24, in the company of his family.
Born on Dec. 5, 1920, Rob was pleased (and amazed) to have been healthy and active for so many years.
In March of 1942 he joined the Army Air Corps, where he was trained as a pilot. When a plane was battle damaged, Rob was the person who flew the newly repaired P40 Warhawk, putting it through its paces to be sure that it was fully safe to fly. He was always very humble about his service. This level of humility made him respected and appreciated by all who knew him.
After WWII, Rob joined IBM, and learned everything there was to know about typewriters, including manual typewriters, the early electric typewriters, and the Selectric (the one with the bouncing ball that carried all the letters). He progressed to writing instructional manuals and teaching others to troubleshoot and make repairs. His natural attention to detail and his curiosity as an engineer stood him well, and he stayed with IBM for 29 years, retiring in 1975. It’s no surprise that after retirement he kept up with technology, and still used his computers, iPad, and Kindle daily throughout his life.
Rob and his wife Kit traveled extensively around the country and the world, and spent as much time as they could with their two sons, daughter, and grandchildren. The entire family moved to Maine, settling in the midcoast to be closer together. Rob joined St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and loved singing with the choir. He always had music playing in his home, watched Lawrence Welk every week, and enjoyed old musicals (really old ones like “My Fair Lady”).
Moving in with his son and daughter-in-law at the farm and already in his 90s, Rob took on the challenging task of mowing the uneven, hilly lawn on the farm. His “personal lawnmower” was cared for much like his P40 Warhawks, typewriters, and computers: carefully cleaned and tended to. He would rake the lawn after mowing, then sit on his porch, enjoy the summer sun, and the look of his lawn.
With his quiet and observant manner, Rob will be missed very much by all of us who loved him, and he will always be carried in our hearts.
He was predeceased by his wife Catharine (Kit) Goth; and son Paul Goth.
Rob is survived by son, Peter Goth and daughter-in-law Wendy Pieh; daughter, Cordelia Goth; daughter-in-law, Brenda Goth; and grandchildren, Andrew, Peter, and Catharine Brooks, Andrea and Will Goth, Michaella Warryn, and David Hall.
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., March 16 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Newcastle, followed by a life celebration (with barbecue, bonfire, and stories) at Rob’s home at Springtide Farm starting at 1 p.m., located at 123 Rial Herald Rd., Bremen. Please come and join the family.
Condolences, and messages for his family, may be expressed by visiting StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
