Alvah Jay Goss, 93, went to be with the Lord, on Friday, February 17, 2017 after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Malden, MA and grew up in Springfield, MA moving to Ware thirteen years ago. He was known for his rendition of the Lord's Prayer in Indian sign language that he learned in Boy Scouts that he has done for fifty-five years in various churches, clubs, schools and different organizations. Alvah was involved in scouting for over thirty years. He served as a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Navy from 1941 to 1945. He fought two wars in both the European and Pacific theatres. He took part in ten major battles including: Convoys in the North Atlantic, Invasion of North Africa Casablanca, Guam, Formosa, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, the Philippine Liberation and the battle of Leyte Gulf. He was given an honorable discharge and a good conduct medal and had the privilege of being on the Honor Flight of New England to Washington, DC in 2015. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church in South Hadley. He loved doing woodcarving with his grandson Ryan. They were very close and had a good relationship with the Lord. Alvah spent his career upholstering furniture at Holyoke Creative Arts in Holyoke and he retired from Hampden county. He was a passionate loving father and found happiness in family gatherings and vacations. He was loved and will be missed by many. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley Jean (Dexter) Goss in 2009 and a son, George Jay Goss in 2003. He leaves a son and his fiancé, Scott Goss and Lori Gates of Chicopee, and a daughter, Robin Maslak and a grandson, Ryan Maslak, whom he loved very much as his son, both of Ware. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews. The service will be Thursday at 10am at the Chapel of the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street in Agawam. Contributions may be made in Alvah's memory to Baystate Visiting Nurse & Hospice Association, 50 Maple Street, Springfield, MA 01102. CURRAN-O'BRIEN FUNERAL HOME is assisting the family.