Adele Harris Goss

Adele Harris Goss passed away on March 27, 2023, at the age of 97. Margaret Adele Harris was born in Tacoma, Washington, on May 24, 1925.

At the age of 17 months, Adele was adopted by John Leslie and Grace Harris. An only child, she started to read at a very early age with the help of her grandfather. She enjoyed learning and would often comment on how much she loved school. Adele graduated in 1942 from Walla Walla High School and went on to graduate from Whitman College in 1946. She was the first woman to earn a BA in Public Administration. She also received a degree in Political Science and a Minor in Speech. However, the most important event during her college days was, being accepted into the Delta Gama Sorority. She was proud to be a DG sister for 80 years.

Following graduation from Whitman College, Adele served on the Washington Rural Affairs committee and later served as an assistant to the Washington State director of fisheries.

She married Robert S. Goss in 1948; they had two sons and later divorced.

During her career, Adele held many leading positions, working both in State and Federal Government. Then, she moved to Washington, DC, where she was the head of a recruiting program for qualified women of high­ level positions in the Interior Department. She eventually retired as Land Program Manager for the US Forestry Service.

After retirement in 1989, she returned to Walla Walla and became involved with many community organizations and activities. She was on the board of the Downtown Foundation; Chamber of Commerce; Carnegie Art Center; Board of Equalization, and Boundary Review Board. Board of Adjustment; Civil Service Commission; Whitman College Alumni Board; World War2 Committee; and Walla Walla General Hospital Advisory Board.

Adele's volunteer involvement included: The Balloon Stampede and Wings Over Walla Walla. Red Cross Blood Drives.

In 1995 She was proud to become one of the first women members of Rotary and was involved in several projects. She was a member of the Walla Walla Jazz Society and Symphony Guild. In addition, she was a State Committeewoman for the Washington State Republican Party.

In 2005 she was the recipient of a Whitman College Alumni Award—the Sally Rodgers Award for Lifelong Achievement.

She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Adele will be missed by many close friends, including Leo and Donna Doyle; Peggy Sanderson; Tim and Terry Klinefelter, and her caregiver for the past seven years, Judy Haste.

A special thank you to the staff at Eagle Springs Memory Care.

At her request, in place of a funeral service, a reception will be held at the Episcopal Church, 323 Catherine Street, at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made in Adele's name to the Christian Aid Center or Whitman College Library fund through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.