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Howard E. Gordon, 87, a longtime Meadville resident, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 at North Kansas City Hospital.
He was born Dec. 13, 1924 on the family farm south of Rothville, Mo., to Velma Rice Gordon and Willie Harrel Gordon. On Sept. 7, 1946, he married Frances Lee George at the bride's family home at Bosworth, Mo.
He attended country school, graduating from Rothville High School in 1942.
He was a member of the United States Navy. Howard volunteered for the Patrol Torpedo squadrons, graduated from Gunnery School and boat training in Seattle, Wash., and deployed to the South Pacific. A Gunner's Mate 3rd Class, he served in the Philippines through the end of the war. In 1944, his PT boat took part in two of the largest naval battles in history, the Battle of Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was discharged on May 7, 1946 in St. Louis. While awaiting processing, he was selected to be the American Flag bearer for pregame ceremonies on the field at the St. Louis Cardinals' 1946 home opener at Sportsman's Park.
He and his wife set up house in Brookfield, Mo., where both were employed at Brown Shoe; she in the office, and he as a floor supervisor.
Howard then became a salesman for Standard Oil Co. The couple moved to St. Joseph, Mo., and then to Excelsior Springs.
In 1955, the family moved to Meadville, Mo., where Howard took over a Standard Oil tankwagon service from Toad Collis.
Howard worked in fuel sales and distribution in Meadville for 58 years, representing Standard, Skelly, Getty, and most recently, MFA Oil Co.
He was also a carpenter and cabinetmaker, working freelance and also with Raymond Caselman and Harold Lee for many years. From 1969 until 1992, he was city clerk and then mayor of Meadville and served for decades on the volunteer fire department.
In Dec. 2008 he retired from the MFA tankwagon servicing, having logged over a million accident-free local miles with flammable liquids.
Howard was also a sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed baseball, especially the Cardinals, Royals and the Mudcats and KU basketball. He was a third degree Mason, a 50-plus year member of Williams-DeMoss Legion Post 517, and was a fixture in community life in Meadville.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen Findley, Tucson, Ariz., and Doris Kadel, Montezuma, Iowa; daughter, Shelley Gordon Tate and husband Steve, Chillicothe, Mo.; son, Scott and wife Jessica, Columbia, Mo.; five grandchildren, Kristin Tate Rennels and husband Matt, Lawrence, Kan., Laura Gordon Stewart and husband Chuck, New London, Mo.; Erin Tate, Liberty, Mo., Sarah Gordon, Nashville, Tenn., and Michael Tate, Kansas City, Kan.; three step-grandchildren, Rachel Lipanovich Winchell and husband Stephen, Annapolis, Md., Mariah Lipanovich, Arlington, Va., and Jake Lipanovich and wife Erica, Springfield, Mo.; and two great-granddaughters, Macy Caroline and Alice Pearl Stewart, New London, Mo.
Howard E. Gordon, 87, a longtime Meadville resident, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 at North Kansas City Hospital.
He was born Dec. 13, 1924 on the family farm south of Rothville, Mo., to Velma Rice Gordon and Willie Harrel Gordon. On Sept. 7, 1946, he married Frances Lee George at the bride's family home at Bosworth, Mo.
He attended country school, graduating from Rothville High School in 1942.
He was a member of the United States Navy. Howard volunteered for the Patrol Torpedo squadrons, graduated from Gunnery School and boat training in Seattle, Wash., and deployed to the South Pacific. A Gunner's Mate 3rd Class, he served in the Philippines through the end of the war. In 1944, his PT boat took part in two of the largest naval battles in history, the Battle of Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was discharged on May 7, 1946 in St. Louis. While awaiting processing, he was selected to be the American Flag bearer for pregame ceremonies on the field at the St. Louis Cardinals' 1946 home opener at Sportsman's Park.
He and his wife set up house in Brookfield, Mo., where both were employed at Brown Shoe; she in the office, and he as a floor supervisor.
Howard then became a salesman for Standard Oil Co. The couple moved to St. Joseph, Mo., and then to Excelsior Springs.
In 1955, the family moved to Meadville, Mo., where Howard took over a Standard Oil tankwagon service from Toad Collis.
Howard worked in fuel sales and distribution in Meadville for 58 years, representing Standard, Skelly, Getty, and most recently, MFA Oil Co.
He was also a carpenter and cabinetmaker, working freelance and also with Raymond Caselman and Harold Lee for many years. From 1969 until 1992, he was city clerk and then mayor of Meadville and served for decades on the volunteer fire department.
In Dec. 2008 he retired from the MFA tankwagon servicing, having logged over a million accident-free local miles with flammable liquids.
Howard was also a sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed baseball, especially the Cardinals, Royals and the Mudcats and KU basketball. He was a third degree Mason, a 50-plus year member of Williams-DeMoss Legion Post 517, and was a fixture in community life in Meadville.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen Findley, Tucson, Ariz., and Doris Kadel, Montezuma, Iowa; daughter, Shelley Gordon Tate and husband Steve, Chillicothe, Mo.; son, Scott and wife Jessica, Columbia, Mo.; five grandchildren, Kristin Tate Rennels and husband Matt, Lawrence, Kan., Laura Gordon Stewart and husband Chuck, New London, Mo.; Erin Tate, Liberty, Mo., Sarah Gordon, Nashville, Tenn., and Michael Tate, Kansas City, Kan.; three step-grandchildren, Rachel Lipanovich Winchell and husband Stephen, Annapolis, Md., Mariah Lipanovich, Arlington, Va., and Jake Lipanovich and wife Erica, Springfield, Mo.; and two great-granddaughters, Macy Caroline and Alice Pearl Stewart, New London, Mo.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, and by his wife, Fran, on Jan. 17, 1994.
A celebration of Howard's life will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Lindley Funeral Homes, Chillicothe, Mo. Family and friends will be asked to share memories and stories about Howard. Friends may call from 12 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Howard Gordon Memorial Ducks Unlimited Scholarship, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Mo.
