Gary W. Goldsmith

Gary W. Goldsmith, 78 yrs., of Mays Landing, NJ, formerly from Lock Haven, PA, passed peacefully on July 14th, 2024, at Royal Suites Healthcare in Galloway, NJ, after an 18 month stay due to a TBI. Gary was born in Germantown, PA on Tuesday, November 6th, 1945, to Samuel N. Goldsmith and Ruth A. Goldsmith (Maurer). They then moved shortly after to Lock Haven, PA where Gary and his brother Daniel were raised.

Gary attended schools in the Lock Haven area and later graduated from high school in 1964 from The Milton Hershey School for Boys in Hershey, PA. After graduation Gary joined the US Army. He was stationed at; Fort Bragg, the Dominican Republic, and for about 18 months in South Vietnam, where he was injured during The Tet Offensive. Gary was honorably discharged in November of 1971.

Gary met and began dating Anna J. Deegan of Lock Haven in 1965. He and Anna eloped to Fort Bragg in North Carolina where he was stationed. They lived on base until his deployment overseas.

After discharge from the US Army, Gary and Anna bought a home in Lock Haven, PA. There they raised two sons, Thomas (1968) and Robert (1975). Gary worked for the Hammermill paper company, and then for the State of Pennsylvania at the Rockview State Corrections prison in Bellefonte, PA, where he retired from in 2000. He was also a long-time member of the Flemington Vol Fire company in PA as a fireman and EMT. Gary moved to NJ after retirement, to be closer to his sons and grandchildren.

Gary’s wife and mother of his sons, Anna, died in November of 2014, and his brother Daniel in November of 2023. Gary is survived by his sons, Thomas Goldsmith (Debbie) and Robert Goldsmith; grandchildren Adam, Justin, Joshua, Aidan, Declan, and Brielle of NJ; as well as his nephew and niece, along with their family in PA.

Friends and family are invited to gather for a viewing on Friday, July 19, 2024, from 12 to 1PM at Boakes Funeral Home, 6050 Main St., Mays Landing, NJ, where a service will be held at 1PM. Burial will follow at Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery in Estell Manor, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to your favorite charity or to the Disabled American Veterans in his name.