WEST PITTSTON — Thanks to the Wyoming Area Field Hockey Parents Association and the Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club, the Gober family will be helped through a difficult time.
At Senior Night for the Wyoming Area field hockey players Monday, Anne’s Angels Fundraiser will be held with all proceeds going to the Gober Children Educational Fund.
Anne Gober, 45, of Wyoming, was killed on July 21, 2015 in a head-on collision in Bridgewater Township, Susquehanna County. She died of multiple traumatic injuries, according to the county coroner. State police said Michael Argust of Montrose was traveling south when his vehicle crossed the northbound lane, hitting her vehicle.
State police said Argust, 22, was high on opiates when his SUV struck Gober’s pickup. He’s been charged with the death. The preliminary hearing for Argust is set for 1 p.m. Monday in Montrose.
The Monday evening event will raise money for Gober’s four children.
At the event set for Anthony “Jake” Sobeski Stadium, the junior varsity game will begin at 5 p.m. with Senior Night following. The varsity game will begin at 6:30 p.m. Throughout the evening, proceeds from the food stand and a Chinese Auction will go directly to the foundation.
A limited number of T-shirts from Anne’s Angels will be available at the game. Terrycloth wristbands with Gober’s initials (AEG) will be on sale for $5.
Tiffany Callaio, secretary for the Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club, said the Gober children were raised in the Kiwanis family. That’s why the club felt it needed to step up and help, she said. Callaio said the Key Club stand will be open at the game and all food and drinks have been donated by the community.
Education comes first
Upon hearing of the passing of Gober, Wyoming Mayor Bob Boyer helped start the Gober Children Educational Fund which will help offset the cost of education for the children.
The fund is set up at the UFCW Credit Union, 377 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Anyone wishing to donate may send a check to the credit union.
“When Anne passed away, there was an outpouring of support for the Gober family,” Boyer said. “Everyone who knew Anne knew she was very passionate about the children’s education.”
Boyer thought it only made sense to donate money to the family in lieu of flowers.
Gober was the mother of senior field hockey player and 2015 Wyoming Area Homecoming Court nominee Grace Gober, along with freshman field hockey player Abigail Gober.
Julia Gober, a sophomore at Lebanon Valley College, was a four-year player on the Wyoming Area tennis team. Her mother helped established the Wyoming Area Tennis Boosters Club a few years ago. Joseph Thomas is a seventh-grader at Wyoming Area and a member of the cross country team.
Joseph Gober, Anne’s husband of 20 years, is the president of the Wyoming Area Field Hockey Parents Association.
Leaving behind friends and family
Gober was a parent figure to many Wyoming Area students and athletes. The Gober family also operates Gober’s Deco Lounge in Exeter where the Kiwanis Club meets.
Throughout her time in the Wyoming Area School District, Gober was a volunteer for several different organizations.
She was secretary of the Wyoming Area Softball Parents Association and was involved with the Wyoming Area Field Hockey Parents Association, Wyoming-West Wyoming Little League and volunteered with many other organizations.
“She was fantastic,” Callaio said of Gober. “You would walk in and she’d give you that big smile to light up the room. She was so involved and loved being around the kids. She was so active and helped out so much. She’ll be greatly missed.”
Originally from Friendsville near Montrose, Gober was employed at Montrose Auto Parts. She graduated from Montrose Area High School in 1987 and, later, Luzerne County Community College and Wilkes University.
“Unfortunately, when these things happen in a small town, everyone is affected,” Boyer said. “But fortunately, everyone wants to rally forward and stick together.”
