John Robinson Gould

John Robinson Gould was born on September 6th, 1931, the fifth child of Edward Allen and Allena (Robinson) Gould, in Cushing, Oklahoma. He passed away on Monday, August 15, 2022, at Olathe Hospice House. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 23rd, 6:00 p.m. followed by a reception at Hillcrest Christian Church, 11411 Quivira Road, Overland Park, Kansas. Visitation will be at the home before the service, 3:00-5:00 p.m., at 12357 South Gallery, Olathe.

John’s childhood was filled with fun and energy with his seven siblings. His father owned the Coca-Cola bottling company in town and John worked there along with other siblings. The Gould home was often the center of gatherings, parties, and activities for the youth in town. John loved cars, and in high school, John entered the Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild model car competition out of Detroit, MI. He took 2nd place in 1948, and 3rd place in 1949.

John attended Oklahoma A&M College, Stillwater, OK from 1950-1952, until his friends and countrymen “invited” him to join the Army and serve in Korea for two years. He was assigned to the front-line field artillery unit to determine the coordinates of the enemy’s location via radar. Following this service, he held jobs in the oil and gas industry in Ulysses, KS, and Casper, WY. He returned to Oklahoma State University to complete his college education, graduating in 1959 with a degree in business. He joined his brother Virgil in pledging Sigma Chi Fraternity in 1954 and kept in close touch with his fraternity brothers throughout the years. He was an avid follower of all sports of Oklahoma State and could often be seen at Tanner’s or Fox and Hound on a Saturday afternoon rooting on the team with other alums.

Following graduation he worked for National Supply in Pittsburgh, PA; H.J. Heinz Foods in Wichita and southern Oklahoma; Stoops-Wilson in Kansas City, MO; and Oklahoma Public Service Co. in Tulsa, OK. He acquired his real estate license and eventually moved to the Oklahoma City area where he was engaged in real estate and property and building management.

He met his wife Kirby at a Methodist church singles dance in 1987. They married in Edmond, OK on March 25, 1989. His most satisfying career move came upon the birth of their daughters when he left the business world to become a Mr. Mom.

The family of four traveled extensively: during the summers, spring breaks, and to accompany Kirby on business trips. Most notably they attended the World Convention of the Christian/Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ in Sydney, Australia in 2000, where they encountered koalas, kangaroos, and a platypus. In 2004 the convention was in Brighton England, and they spent three weeks in England and Holland tracing the life of his ancestor, Rev. John Robinson, minister to the Pilgrims.

At Hillcrest Christian Church John served as elder, trustee, and chair of the property committee. For several years he was a faithful monthly volunteer at Argentine Food Kitchen (later Cross-Lines) pouring milk and lemonade for the guests’ noon meal and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. His most satisfying call to service was being nominated to serve on the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from 1996-1999.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Allen, Grant, George, and Robert; brothers-in-law Vic Smyth and John Keith; nieces Gretchen Gould and Chrissy Ann Gould; and nephew Edward Allen Gould III (Tig) Gould.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kirby (Hughes) Gould; two daughters, Virginia Gould Hoskins (Ginny) of Castle Rock, CO, and her husband Benjamin James Hoskins; and Katherine Allena Gould (Katie) of Olathe, and her partner Sean Groff. He is also survived by grandsons John Robinson Hoskins and Craig McFarlane Hoskins. Grandson number three, James Benjamin Hoskins, will join the family in December. Also surviving are brother Virgil and wife Beverly of Austin TX; and sisters Genevieve Smyth of Austin, TX and Gretchen Keith of Castle Rock, CO; along with many nieces and nephews and their families. Cat Jameson also survives of the home.

John’s ashes will be interred at Fort Leavenworth Cemetery.

Memorials can be given to Hillcrest Christian Church, designated for the church’s food ministries; or to Christian Church Foundation, PO Box 1007, Indianapolis, IN, 46206, for the John and Kirby Hughes Gould, Permanent Fund which benefits ministries through Disciples Mission Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The family wishes to thank the emergency room and ICU staff at Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Olathe Hospice House for their medical care in John’s final hours, Midwest Transplant Center for their care in enabling John to donate tissue, and the staff of McGilley and Frye for their assistance in preparing for John’s end-of-life plans.