Chester County PA Archives Obituaries.....Guss, George R December 20, 1969
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Daily Local News, December 22 & 26, 1969
Daily Local News, December 22, 1969

George R. Guss, Chief of Police in West Chester for 12 years, died Saturday 
afternoon in the Delaware Division, Wilmington Medical Center.  Chief Guss, 
who had been hospitalized for some time following a stroke, died one day short 
of his 66th birthday.  He and his wife, Mary K. Guss, lived at 118 N. Church 
St., West Chester.

He retired Dec. 31, 1968, after serving as chief for 12 of his 31 years with 
the borough force.  Chief Guss started as a desk clerk in January 1938.  A 
year later, he moved on the street as a patrolman.  He was made sergeant on 
March 15, 1946, and Chief on Jan. 24, 1956.

At the time of his retirement, Chief Guss recalled earlier days of police work 
in West Chester when there were 15 men working two twenty hour shifts with 
only two days off a month.

In addition, he said, the force worked with a one-way radio, sending messages 
twice in the hope that they would be received.  

Testimonial

At the time of Chief Guss’s retirement a testimonial dinner was given for him 
at the Italian Social Club.   On that occasion, Ashton B.T. Smith, former West 
Chester burgess, said of Chief Guss: “You have given unstintingly of yourself 
in serving the citizens of this town with honesty, integrity and humility, and 
we, the citizens of West Chester, salute you.”

On the same night, Judge J. Paul MacElree, president judge of the Chester 
County Orphan’s Court, said: ‘Throughout the years, the Guss family name has 
been synonymous with patriotism and with law and order.  It is little wonder 
that George chose as a career that of Police officer.”

A charter member and first president of the Chester County Fraternal Order of 
Police Lodge 11, Chief Guss was born in West Chester, the son of the late 
Henry R. and Anna Riley Guss.  He attended St. Agnes High School, graduating 
in 1922.  Chief Gus was a violinist until his fingers were damaged in a car 
accident at which time he took up the drums.  He played with a dance band at 
West Chester State College.

Many Members

Among the former chief’s many memberships were St. Agnes Church and the Msgr. 
Henry C. Schuyler Council, Knights of Columbus.  He was also a member of the 
B.P.O. Elks, West Chester Lodge; the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 1720; 
the Italian Social Club and the Chiefs of Police Association.  

Surviving in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Miss Judith Ann Guss, both 
of West Chester, and two grandchildren.  Also surviving are two sisters, Mill 
Alice M. Guss, Philadelphia; Mrs. Horace T. Boyer, West Chester; and three 
brothers, Henry R., Charles R. and Robert S., all of West Chester.

Daily Local News, December 26, 1969

George R. Guss
Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Agnes Church, West Chester, on 
Wednesday morning for George R. Guss, former West Chester Police Chief and 
husband of Mary K. Guss, 118 N. Church st.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Laurence F. Kelly was the celebrant.  The Rev. Martin E. 
Woodeshick served as deacon and the Rev. Bartholomew J. O’Brien was sub deacon.

Present in the sanctuary were the Rev. Francis X. Wahl and the Rev. Raymond I. 
Mackin.

Msgr. Kelly conducted the final rites at St. Agnes Cemetery of the Rosary was 
said at the Smith Funeral Home on Tuesday evening.  Sgt. Melvin Levine, 
president of the Chester County Lodge, F.O.P. and officers of the West Goshen 
and West Chester police departments held a service on Tuesday afternoon.

Bearers were Lt. James Sobers, Sgts. Henry Tukloff, Sal Canzonneri, Dyer Henly 
and officer Harry Saltzman, West Chester Police Department and Lt. Charles 
Darlington, West Goshen police department.  Honorary bearers were Chief Thomas 
M. Frame, West Chester and Chief Louis H. Close, West Goshen.

Both West Chester and West Goshen departments paid their respects in a body in 
full uniform and extended a final salute at the bier of their fellow officer, 
as did officers and members of the departments of Chester County.

Ibid
GUSS- In Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 20, 1969, George R. Guss, husband of Mary 
K. Guss, of 118 N. Church St., West Chester, in the 66th year.  Relatives and 
friends and all organizations of which he was a member are invited to attend 
the funeral from the Smith Funeral Home, 115 E. Gay St., West Chester, on 
Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 9 A.M.  Solemn Requiem Mass in St. Agnes Church at 10 
A.M.  Interment at St. Agnes Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home 
on Tuesday after 4 P.M.


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