Carol Goss, longtime Wrightwood resident, died on 11/15/23, at age 97 at her home in Oakland, Ca. Carol lived in Wrightwood, at 1742 Twin Lakes Dr., from 1972 until she left to be closer to her family in 2015. Many remember her and her husband Bob (d. 2004) doing their almost daily walks around town. Carol used her skills from being a political science professor at Cal State San Bernardino to become an activist and advocate for Wrightwood. If you went to Municipal Advisory Council Meetings, were part of Friends of the Library or the Wrightwood Historical Society or participated in a litter pick up day along Route 2, Carol was probably there. Wrightwood yard sales, the Forest Service Big Pines Visitor Center, the Table Mountain walking path and of course the Post Office would be other places you’d likely run into Carol. She was also noticeable for her lime green Volkswagen Beetle.
Carol was instrumental in getting Wrightwood’s water rates frozen for over 10 years after numerous increases, as well as getting lane dividing lines painted on Lone Pine Canyon Rd. For years she wrote the monthly Wrightwood Property Owners newsletter which became a go to source for what was happening in town. Her son Rob remembers her always getting calls from people for everything from complaints about barking dogs to figuring out the agenda for an upcoming meeting.
Carol Grace Foulds, was born on September 16th, 1926 in Chicago Illinois. The family soon moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In High School, Carol met her husband Robert Goss who later was trained as a pilot for WWII but fortunately the war ended before he had to serve in combat. Carol and Bob settled in Ohio where Bob pursued a degree in Aeronautical Engineering with the help of some math tutoring from his wife. The couple build three houses in Ohio and then moved to Florida in 1955 where their son Robert Jr., was born.
Around 1963 the family made the big move out west to Tucson Arizona where Bob worked for the City of Tucson. It was in Tucson that Carol and Bob reinvented themselves. Carol went to the University of Arizona to complete a Bachelors degree and was seen as such a promising student that she received scholarships to pursue a PhD program in Political Science. Bob went to the UofA as well, receiving a Masters in Art History and Bachelors in Studio Art.
In 1970 Carol got a teaching position at Cal State San Bernardino College. She was the first woman professor to be hired in the Political Science Department there. Then in 1972 they moved to beautiful Wrightwood. She retired in 1990 and she and Bob traveled all over. In 2004 her husband passed away and Carol got even more involved in the civic affairs of Wrightwood, the town she loved so much. She moved to Oakland in 2015 to a senior living facility, Piedmont Gardens which is near her family’s home. One final achievement of Carol’s was her being able to go her granddaughter Natalie’s high school graduation ceremony in May of 2023 at the age of 96. Then on November 15th, the seemingly indestructible Carol, passed during the night, with the love of her family, the scent of a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, and her beloved classical music surrounding her.
Carol is survived by her son, Robert Goss Jr., grand daughter Natalie and daughter-in-law Kathy.
The Wrightwood Historical Society has an extensive interview with Carol which is available for viewing. An informal memorial will be held for Carol on Saturday 1/13/23, in Oakland. You can contact Carol’s son Rob for details at 510 593 3293.
Carol and her grand daughter Natalie at Natalie's high school graduation
