Thomas "Buster" Allen Goscinski

Thomas Allen Goscinski was born on April 07, 1923, in San Jon, New Mexico to Polish immigrant Ignacy Goscinski and wife, Nancy Emaline Payne Goscinski. He had three sisters, Josephine Goscinski Shiplet, Annabell Goscinski, and Martha Goscinski. His childhood, political leaning, and future quirks and addiction to saving things came from living through The Great Depression and The Dust Bowl. He often told the story about standing on the road with his sisters and a few suitcases, while his mother and father had gone to town to see their ranch auctioned off. The President of the United States stopped the auction process and saved the day. He said the sardine and crackers lunch they had that day was the best ever.

He graduated high school in the village of San Jon, NM, in 1941.

After graduation, he joined the Army Air Corp on Armistice Day in 1941, following his cousin, Robert Payne, who was drafted and to be inducted on that same day. He was asked if he wanted to be part of the Air Corps, and he accepted. Although trained to be in the Sperry ball turret, he was a nose gunner in a B-24 with the 466th Army Air Corp Bombardment group, Northern France Ardennes Rhineland GO 33 WD 45 Central Europe. His first mission was the longest initial assault ever flown by any unit in the history of the European Theater, as well as one of the heaviest daylight bombardments of the German capital on record. His group receive an official commendation from Lt. General James H. Doolittle for that mission. He flew 27 missions before being sent home. A few of his targets were Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne. He received an Honorable Discharge at Army Air Forces Separation Base, Sioux City, Iowa on October 27, 1945, with a rank as Staff Sargent.

After his discharge from the Army Air Corp, he worked several jobs before moving to Pasadena, Texas and going to work for Diamond Shamrock. He worked at Laclede Steel Company in Alton, Illinois, and at Western Auto when he got to Texas. He retired from Diamond Shamrock in 1985 and continued to stay busy managing and maintaining his rental property, mowing his yard and general tinkering with things.

He was known by several names, Thomas, Buster, Dad and Granddad. He was married twice…first to Josephine Stallings, resulting in the birth of a daughter, Peggy Sue Goscinski, in March 1947. He married Beulah Largent Goscinski on June 19, 1956. They had one daughter, Traci, but consistently and gladly opened their home to others.

Thomas is preceded in death by wife, Beulah Mae Largent Goscinski, daughter, Peggy Sue Wofford, grandson, Jimmy Wayne Wofford, Mother Nancy Goscinski, Father Ignacy Goscinski, Sisters, Josephine Shiplet, Annabel Goscinski, and Martha Goscinski. The list gets long when you live to be 98 years of age.

He is survived by daughter, Traci Goscinski Cude and husband, Dennis, grandchildren Jeremy Keepers and wife, Danielle, Beth Keepers Phariss and husband Thomas, Darrell Cude and wife, Ashleigh, Randi Cude Robles and husband, Armando, and Kevin Tyler Cude. His sister, Josephine, gave him two nephews, Jim Shiplet and Billy Charles Shiplet. Through his marriage to Beulah Mae, AKA Pistol, he had numerous nephews and nieces. He was blessed with eleven great grandchildren, and almost made it to see #12 to be arriving soon.

On January 17, 2022, he was called home. He peacefully took his final breath surrounded by family in his Pasadena home.