Rowena D. Goss

Rowena Doss Goss, 99, a native Texan and widow of the late Dallas Goss, died peacefully on Saturday, December 11, 2010 with her family by her side after facing a final illness of congestive heart failure with courage and an enduring spirit. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at Johnson’s Funeral Home, 435 W. Beauregard, San Angelo, Texas. A private burial will be held at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson’s Funeral Home.

Rowena was born on September 16, 1911 to Annie Goodman and J. H. Doss in Milsap. The family moved to nearby Weatherford where she was reared with her beloved brother, the late James Houston Doss. She played the piano at an early age, teaching her friends for a penny a lesson, performing throughout her childhood, and accompanying her schoolmate, the late Broadway star, Mary Martin, at Weatherford High School. A graduate in Piano Performance at Texas Christian University, Rowena received a Master of Music degree at Louisiana State University where she met the dashing tenor, Dallas Goss, who was completing his Master’s degree in Voice. She was his accompanist in the opera department, and when they eloped a few months later, she stayed by his side for the next 57 years. Rather than pursuing a concert career, she chose to be his partner and accompany him in revival meetings, church services, recitals, and musicales for various business clubs. They settled in San Angelo in 1946 and soon became members of the First Baptist Church, where Dallas later would become the Minister of Music, a position he held for many years. They immediately became active in the city’s musical life, teaching and performing, and joining various music organizations. Their family included their cherished son, Charles Houston, who died tragically in 1973, and their daughter, Susan Charles, a singer and voice teacher who lives in a suburb of Chicago.

Rowena’s life was filled with her family, her faith, and her music. Devoted to all her family, she spent as much time as possible with them at holiday times and at reunions where everyone gathered around the piano singing hymns and classical tunes, and going together to church services. A member of the First Baptist Church since 1946, she sang in the choir with her beautiful soprano voice for many years and played regularly for worship services and Sunday School classes, as recently as this past May. She volunteered every Thursday for almost 40 years as chapel pianist at the Baptist Retirement Center. Until the end of her life, she greatly enjoyed playing her own hymn arrangements at her church on Wednesday nights during the family supper hour and prayer service. At churches, receptions, parties, and anywhere there was a piano being played, everyone knew who was at the keyboard by the distinctive beauty of her tone and the elegance of her playing. Her greatest joy was making music or “giving music” as she was fond of saying. Her music was filled with her heart and soul and flowed straight to the heart and soul of whoever was listening.

Bedridden in her final months, she was wheeled almost every day into the chapel at the Baptist Retirement Center where she played as beautifully as ever, all from memory, her beloved classical pieces, old standards and hymns. Shortly before her death, she triumphantly began to walk again. She even was preparing to play a program in the chapel on Saturday, December 4, when increasing weakness forced her to re-schedule to a later date.

Rowena was one of the most important and influential figures in the cultural life of San Angelo. She was a piano instructor at San Angelo Junior College, now Angelo State University, and taught privately for many years. She always said that instead of charging her students for lessons, she should have paid them for all the happy rewards she received. Along with her husband, Dallas, she was an enthusiastic and diligent supporter of the San Angelo Symphony from its earliest founding, singing in the Symphony Chorus, accompanying in rehearsals, and playing the piano in the percussion section of the Orchestra. She had been a member of the Board of Directors since 1972 and was a Charter Honor Member of the Symphony Guild. Rowena was legendary for her peerless skill in selling patron memberships to the Symphony’s annual concert series, and when she had her eye on a prospect, that person would not be able to resist her magnetic appeal. Other honors include being selected a Life Member of the National and Texas Federated Music Clubs, serving many years as the state chairperson of the Crusade for Strings and Chamber Music in Texas schools. She was past president of the Philharmonic Society, and also of the San Angelo Music Teachers Association. A patron of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts for many years, she promoted and helped develop the Chamber Music Series at the Museum which presents artists not only from Texas but from across the U.S. and Europe.

Throughout her life, Rowena was involved both in educating and in furthering the careers of aspiring young musicians. There are today a number of successful pianists, singers, and string players who were recipients of her encouragement and support. Even in the last months of her life, she was thrilled to watch the progress of a young singer whom she helped to continue his vocal studies toward an operatic career.

A life-long Democrat, Rowena was a fervent patriot who was an active and informed citizen of her beloved city, state and nation. In 1992, she was presented a Certificate of Citation from the Senate of the State of Texas: “For working to make our community a better place to live, work, and learn. Your tireless efforts and caring are an inspiration to us all.” Later that year, at the age of 80, representing the Symphony Society, she won the Ms. Senior San Angelo pageant. Advancing to the Ms. Senior Texas state competition, she was selected Runner-up and in addition, was awarded the Best Talent prize for a performance of her arrangement of Gershwin tunes. In 2001 she was chosen by San Angelo citizens and businesses to be honored as an “Angel,” along with other outstanding women being saluted for their work in the community. Another highlight of that year was her performance of an accomplished, inspiring solo concert in the First Baptist Church Sanctuary as a gift to San Angelo on her 90th birthday. That date, September 16, fell only a few days after this nation’s great tragedy, and she dedicated her music not only to those in attendance, but all those who were in grief that day.

Rowena often stated as the theme of her life, “I want to be a Christian witness and to share any God-given talent with others, just as long as they want to listen.” She believed that in all life experiences, she was called to be a living example of the tenets of her faith. In her family, her church and in her music, she endeavored to do all things to the glory of God. She has left a memorable legacy of her life and her art, and legions of friends and family who will miss her grace and charm, her generous, indomitable spirit, and a delightful wit, which remained with her until the last day of her life.

Rowena is survived by her daughter, Susan, and her son-in-law, Jerry Rosenband of Glencoe, IL ; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Doss of Weatherford; a sister-in-law, Ruth Goss Szabo and husband, A. J. Szabo; cousins Hyle Doss of Midland, and Wilson Canafax of Ft. Worth; nieces and nephews, Nancy Doss Knight of Ft. Worth, Jim Doss and John Doss of Weatherford; Robert Szabo of Wahington, D. C., John Szabo, of Franklin, TN, and Rebecca Szabo (deceased); Nancy Goss Naquin of Robert, LA, Sandra Goss Rochelle of Pineville, LA, and Bill Goss of Tallulah, La.; great-nieces and nephews, Amy Knight Brown, Molly Knight, David Knight, and P. J. Doss; Amanda and Justin Szabo; Robert, David, Michael and Brian Szabo; former daughter-in-law, Rebecca Ryon, of San Angelo; and god-granddaughter, Natalie Rose Forough of Northbrook, Il.

Rowena’s life was greatly enriched by the faithful love and support of all her family. We extend our deep thanks to the First Baptist Church family and all her many friends in San Angelo, Weatherford, and across the country who have sustained her with friendship and love. To all the staff and residents of Royal Estates, where Rowena spent many happy years, we give you thanks for being like a family to her. We are grateful to the doctors and nurses at Shannon Hospital, to the staff at Baptist Retirement Community, and most especially to Debbie Davis and Toyie Hembree of Baptist Hospice for all their loving care and guidance. We deeply thank all the extraordinary women of Division 5 who tended to Rowena’s every need as though she were family. We give our heartfelt thanks to Yvonne Cole for her devoted tender care and attention to every detail during all the months of Rowena’s final illness.

In celebration of her life, a memorial concert and service will be held in the new year.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church, The San Angelo Symphony, the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, or a favorite charity.

Family and Friends may sign an online register book and view the obituary at

www.johnsons-funeralhome.com.