Obituary
At 103, George William Gordon Jr. was one of the area's oldest living citizens. He died Tuesday, Sept. 27, three months shy of his 104th birthday.
Daughter Judith Elliott shared news of his passing on social media by saying, "My dear friends, sadly tonight I had to say goodbye to my dear, sweet Daddy, fondly known to many as Pop! He was soon to be 104, and it so hard to imagine my life without this wonderful man. God called him home quickly and effortlessly as we were enjoying a great evening together! The Angels will sing sweeter and the stars will shine brighter tonight as they welcome their new angel."
Gordon was born at home on his parent's farm in Buffalo Junction on December 27, 1912. In those days, he recalled during an interview given before his death, "You didn't go to the hospital. The doctor came to you in his horse and buggy." He was the second of four children and the oldest boy born to Annie and George Sr.
As a youngster, he remembered following along as his father would tend to the animals — cows, pigs, and horses — and plant the fields on their 180-acre farm. It later grew to more than 300 acres. His father did not own a tractor. Instead, he would walk behind a plow to cultivate the fields, which were planted with corn and tobacco.
He said his father did not let him idle away the days, despite his youth. He had two jobs: one was to cut tobacco sticks with a handsaw — his quota was 50 a day — and the other was to bring the newly shucked corn to the crib, where it was stored for animal feed.
When he wasn't with his father, Gordon said he would often stand at the fence watching the children at the two-room school house that once stood on the family farm. By the time Gordon was old enough to attend school, his father had moved the old school "down the road," and he had to travel to Clarksville, which he did "in a surrey."
Looking back on his youth, Gordon said, "It's amazing how things have changed." The Clarksville of George Gordon's youth was much different from the town we see today. There was no Buggs Island Lake, just the mighty Roanoke River. Burlington Industries and Russell Stover candies had not yet built their factories, and the first bridge spanning the Roanoke River was constructed less than a decade before he was born.
Gordon said there is even a reason that certain roads, which today seem to have such curious names, were so branded. One example is Cow Road, the road on which he lived for most of his life. It was so named, Gordon said, because farmers used to drive cattle to a ferry that stopped at the end of the lane. The ferry would then transport the cows to a dairy farm on Occoneechee Island, which lay in the middle of the Roanoke River.
Life was not always easy for Gordon. His father died when Gordon was only nine, and the Great Depression brought an early and abrupt end to his time in college. Even so, he would recount the days of his youth with humor and appreciation for his family, the mother who was "determined to keep the family together" after her husband's passing, the uncle who took him to school and taught his mother how to drive so the family could continue attending Buffalo Baptist Church, and who also built a house for the tenant who took over the family farm upon the death of his father.
After graduating from high school, Gordon said he headed off to N.C. State. It was 1931, the country was in the grips of the depression, and money was tight. At the end of his first year of college, when the money ran out, Gordon returned home to "earn some money of his own."
Over the years, he said he tried a few different jobs — working for a contractor, and hauling cement in his dump truck during the construction of Clarksville's second bridge, for which he was paid $1 per hour. He also managed the floor of Clarksville's Planters Warehouse, and operated — with two partners — his own Virginia-Carolina Warehouse, but these jobs were always in addition to farming.
Gregg Gordon said of his grandfather, "Tobacco was his business, farming his passion, and hunting his sport." Those words alone do not fully define the man who was one of the founders of Sandy Fork Hunt Club, a past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Twin Rivers Masonic Lodge 338, a faithful member and trustee of Clarksville Baptist Church, a past recipient of the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement award, and a secret fan of the Hells Angels. He even had his picture taken with two members of the motorcycle club during their visit to Clarksville in 2015. The bikers were so taken with the 102-year-old Gordon that they shared his photo with them with clubs around the world.
On Friday, ahead of Gordon's funeral, grandson Gregg Gordon shared this final memory, a tribute to the man who he said made such a difference in his life and in the community. Gordon, a county supervisor, wrote, "Today we lay my grandfather to rest. At 103 years old, I knew this day would come just didn't realize how hard it would be to say good bye. He never gave in to a challenge while challenging and supporting family, friends and those he worked with. He loved and supported our families. He was our patriarch and much more. Today is the day to shed a tear for each year while he is dancing with his stars."
George William Gordon, Jr., was born in Mecklenburg County on December 27, 1912 to the late Annie Leigh Hobgood Gordon and the late George William Gordon, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Odella Woltz Gordon and his son, George William Gordon, III. He is survived by his daughter, Judith Elliott and daughter in law, Anne H. Gordon, grandchildren, Gregg Gordon (Anne), Eric Gordon (Stephanie) and Jocelyn Elliott (Buddy). Also surviving are great grandchildren, Patrick Johnson, Evie Gordon, Hayden Platzke, Mallory Gordon, Hannah Platzke and Charlotte Gordon.
His burial at Oakhurst Cemetery in Clarksville took place Friday, Sept. 30 with Masonic graveside rites.
At 103, George William Gordon Jr. was one of the area's oldest living citizens. He died Tuesday, Sept. 27, three months shy of his 104th birthday.
Daughter Judith Elliott shared news of his passing on social media by saying, "My dear friends, sadly tonight I had to say goodbye to my dear, sweet Daddy, fondly known to many as Pop! He was soon to be 104, and it so hard to imagine my life without this wonderful man. God called him home quickly and effortlessly as we were enjoying a great evening together! The Angels will sing sweeter and the stars will shine brighter tonight as they welcome their new angel."
Gordon was born at home on his parent's farm in Buffalo Junction on December 27, 1912. In those days, he recalled during an interview given before his death, "You didn't go to the hospital. The doctor came to you in his horse and buggy." He was the second of four children and the oldest boy born to Annie and George Sr.
As a youngster, he remembered following along as his father would tend to the animals — cows, pigs, and horses — and plant the fields on their 180-acre farm. It later grew to more than 300 acres. His father did not own a tractor. Instead, he would walk behind a plow to cultivate the fields, which were planted with corn and tobacco.
He said his father did not let him idle away the days, despite his youth. He had two jobs: one was to cut tobacco sticks with a handsaw — his quota was 50 a day — and the other was to bring the newly shucked corn to the crib, where it was stored for animal feed.
When he wasn't with his father, Gordon said he would often stand at the fence watching the children at the two-room school house that once stood on the family farm. By the time Gordon was old enough to attend school, his father had moved the old school "down the road," and he had to travel to Clarksville, which he did "in a surrey."
Looking back on his youth, Gordon said, "It's amazing how things have changed." The Clarksville of George Gordon's youth was much different from the town we see today. There was no Buggs Island Lake, just the mighty Roanoke River. Burlington Industries and Russell Stover candies had not yet built their factories, and the first bridge spanning the Roanoke River was constructed less than a decade before he was born.
Gordon said there is even a reason that certain roads, which today seem to have such curious names, were so branded. One example is Cow Road, the road on which he lived for most of his life. It was so named, Gordon said, because farmers used to drive cattle to a ferry that stopped at the end of the lane. The ferry would then transport the cows to a dairy farm on Occoneechee Island, which lay in the middle of the Roanoke River.
Life was not always easy for Gordon. His father died when Gordon was only nine, and the Great Depression brought an early and abrupt end to his time in college. Even so, he would recount the days of his youth with humor and appreciation for his family, the mother who was "determined to keep the family together" after her husband's passing, the uncle who took him to school and taught his mother how to drive so the family could continue attending Buffalo Baptist Church, and who also built a house for the tenant who took over the family farm upon the death of his father.
After graduating from high school, Gordon said he headed off to N.C. State. It was 1931, the country was in the grips of the depression, and money was tight. At the end of his first year of college, when the money ran out, Gordon returned home to "earn some money of his own."
Over the years, he said he tried a few different jobs — working for a contractor, and hauling cement in his dump truck during the construction of Clarksville's second bridge, for which he was paid $1 per hour. He also managed the floor of Clarksville's Planters Warehouse, and operated — with two partners — his own Virginia-Carolina Warehouse, but these jobs were always in addition to farming.
Gregg Gordon said of his grandfather, "Tobacco was his business, farming his passion, and hunting his sport." Those words alone do not fully define the man who was one of the founders of Sandy Fork Hunt Club, a past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Twin Rivers Masonic Lodge 338, a faithful member and trustee of Clarksville Baptist Church, a past recipient of the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement award, and a secret fan of the Hells Angels. He even had his picture taken with two members of the motorcycle club during their visit to Clarksville in 2015. The bikers were so taken with the 102-year-old Gordon that they shared his photo with them with clubs around the world.
On Friday, ahead of Gordon's funeral, grandson Gregg Gordon shared this final memory, a tribute to the man who he said made such a difference in his life and in the community. Gordon, a county supervisor, wrote, "Today we lay my grandfather to rest. At 103 years old, I knew this day would come just didn't realize how hard it would be to say good bye. He never gave in to a challenge while challenging and supporting family, friends and those he worked with. He loved and supported our families. He was our patriarch and much more. Today is the day to shed a tear for each year while he is dancing with his stars."
George William Gordon, Jr., was born in Mecklenburg County on December 27, 1912 to the late Annie Leigh Hobgood Gordon and the late George William Gordon, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Odella Woltz Gordon and his son, George William Gordon, III. He is survived by his daughter, Judith Elliott and daughter in law, Anne H. Gordon, grandchildren, Gregg Gordon (Anne), Eric Gordon (Stephanie) and Jocelyn Elliott (Buddy). Also surviving are great grandchildren, Patrick Johnson, Evie Gordon, Hayden Platzke, Mallory Gordon, Hannah Platzke and Charlotte Gordon.
His burial at Oakhurst Cemetery in Clarksville took place Friday, Sept. 30 with Masonic graveside rites.
Obituary
At 103, George William Gordon Jr. was one of the area's oldest living citizens. He died Tuesday, Sept. 27, three months shy of his 104th birthday.
Daughter Judith Elliott shared news of his passing on social media by saying, "My dear friends, sadly tonight I had to say goodbye to my dear, sweet Daddy, fondly known to many as Pop! He was soon to be 104, and it so hard to imagine my life without this wonderful man. God called him home quickly and effortlessly as we were enjoying a great evening together! The Angels will sing sweeter and the stars will shine brighter tonight as they welcome their new angel."
Gordon was born at home on his parent's farm in Buffalo Junction on December 27, 1912. In those days, he recalled during an interview given before his death, "You didn't go to the hospital. The doctor came to you in his horse and buggy." He was the second of four children and the oldest boy born to Annie and George Sr.
As a youngster, he remembered following along as his father would tend to the animals — cows, pigs, and horses — and plant the fields on their 180-acre farm. It later grew to more than 300 acres. His father did not own a tractor. Instead, he would walk behind a plow to cultivate the fields, which were planted with corn and tobacco.
He said his father did not let him idle away the days, despite his youth. He had two jobs: one was to cut tobacco sticks with a handsaw — his quota was 50 a day — and the other was to bring the newly shucked corn to the crib, where it was stored for animal feed.
When he wasn't with his father, Gordon said he would often stand at the fence watching the children at the two-room school house that once stood on the family farm. By the time Gordon was old enough to attend school, his father had moved the old school "down the road," and he had to travel to Clarksville, which he did "in a surrey."
Looking back on his youth, Gordon said, "It's amazing how things have changed." The Clarksville of George Gordon's youth was much different from the town we see today. There was no Buggs Island Lake, just the mighty Roanoke River. Burlington Industries and Russell Stover candies had not yet built their factories, and the first bridge spanning the Roanoke River was constructed less than a decade before he was born.
Gordon said there is even a reason that certain roads, which today seem to have such curious names, were so branded. One example is Cow Road, the road on which he lived for most of his life. It was so named, Gordon said, because farmers used to drive cattle to a ferry that stopped at the end of the lane. The ferry would then transport the cows to a dairy farm on Occoneechee Island, which lay in the middle of the Roanoke River.
Life was not always easy for Gordon. His father died when Gordon was only nine, and the Great Depression brought an early and abrupt end to his time in college. Even so, he would recount the days of his youth with humor and appreciation for his family, the mother who was "determined to keep the family together" after her husband's passing, the uncle who took him to school and taught his mother how to drive so the family could continue attending Buffalo Baptist Church, and who also built a house for the tenant who took over the family farm upon the death of his father.
After graduating from high school, Gordon said he headed off to N.C. State. It was 1931, the country was in the grips of the depression, and money was tight. At the end of his first year of college, when the money ran out, Gordon returned home to "earn some money of his own."
Over the years, he said he tried a few different jobs — working for a contractor, and hauling cement in his dump truck during the construction of Clarksville's second bridge, for which he was paid $1 per hour. He also managed the floor of Clarksville's Planters Warehouse, and operated — with two partners — his own Virginia-Carolina Warehouse, but these jobs were always in addition to farming.
Gregg Gordon said of his grandfather, "Tobacco was his business, farming his passion, and hunting his sport." Those words alone do not fully define the man who was one of the founders of Sandy Fork Hunt Club, a past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Twin Rivers Masonic Lodge 338, a faithful member and trustee of Clarksville Baptist Church, a past recipient of the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement award, and a secret fan of the Hells Angels. He even had his picture taken with two members of the motorcycle club during their visit to Clarksville in 2015. The bikers were so taken with the 102-year-old Gordon that they shared his photo with them with clubs around the world.
On Friday, ahead of Gordon's funeral, grandson Gregg Gordon shared this final memory, a tribute to the man who he said made such a difference in his life and in the community. Gordon, a county supervisor, wrote, "Today we lay my grandfather to rest. At 103 years old, I knew this day would come just didn't realize how hard it would be to say good bye. He never gave in to a challenge while challenging and supporting family, friends and those he worked with. He loved and supported our families. He was our patriarch and much more. Today is the day to shed a tear for each year while he is dancing with his stars."
George William Gordon, Jr., was born in Mecklenburg County on December 27, 1912 to the late Annie Leigh Hobgood Gordon and the late George William Gordon, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Odella Woltz Gordon and his son, George William Gordon, III. He is survived by his daughter, Judith Elliott and daughter in law, Anne H. Gordon, grandchildren, Gregg Gordon (Anne), Eric Gordon (Stephanie) and Jocelyn Elliott (Buddy). Also surviving are great grandchildren, Patrick Johnson, Evie Gordon, Hayden Platzke, Mallory Gordon, Hannah Platzke and Charlotte Gordon.
His burial at Oakhurst Cemetery in Clarksville took place Friday, Sept. 30 with Masonic graveside rites.
At 103, George William Gordon Jr. was one of the area's oldest living citizens. He died Tuesday, Sept. 27, three months shy of his 104th birthday.
Daughter Judith Elliott shared news of his passing on social media by saying, "My dear friends, sadly tonight I had to say goodbye to my dear, sweet Daddy, fondly known to many as Pop! He was soon to be 104, and it so hard to imagine my life without this wonderful man. God called him home quickly and effortlessly as we were enjoying a great evening together! The Angels will sing sweeter and the stars will shine brighter tonight as they welcome their new angel."
Gordon was born at home on his parent's farm in Buffalo Junction on December 27, 1912. In those days, he recalled during an interview given before his death, "You didn't go to the hospital. The doctor came to you in his horse and buggy." He was the second of four children and the oldest boy born to Annie and George Sr.
As a youngster, he remembered following along as his father would tend to the animals — cows, pigs, and horses — and plant the fields on their 180-acre farm. It later grew to more than 300 acres. His father did not own a tractor. Instead, he would walk behind a plow to cultivate the fields, which were planted with corn and tobacco.
He said his father did not let him idle away the days, despite his youth. He had two jobs: one was to cut tobacco sticks with a handsaw — his quota was 50 a day — and the other was to bring the newly shucked corn to the crib, where it was stored for animal feed.
When he wasn't with his father, Gordon said he would often stand at the fence watching the children at the two-room school house that once stood on the family farm. By the time Gordon was old enough to attend school, his father had moved the old school "down the road," and he had to travel to Clarksville, which he did "in a surrey."
Looking back on his youth, Gordon said, "It's amazing how things have changed." The Clarksville of George Gordon's youth was much different from the town we see today. There was no Buggs Island Lake, just the mighty Roanoke River. Burlington Industries and Russell Stover candies had not yet built their factories, and the first bridge spanning the Roanoke River was constructed less than a decade before he was born.
Gordon said there is even a reason that certain roads, which today seem to have such curious names, were so branded. One example is Cow Road, the road on which he lived for most of his life. It was so named, Gordon said, because farmers used to drive cattle to a ferry that stopped at the end of the lane. The ferry would then transport the cows to a dairy farm on Occoneechee Island, which lay in the middle of the Roanoke River.
Life was not always easy for Gordon. His father died when Gordon was only nine, and the Great Depression brought an early and abrupt end to his time in college. Even so, he would recount the days of his youth with humor and appreciation for his family, the mother who was "determined to keep the family together" after her husband's passing, the uncle who took him to school and taught his mother how to drive so the family could continue attending Buffalo Baptist Church, and who also built a house for the tenant who took over the family farm upon the death of his father.
After graduating from high school, Gordon said he headed off to N.C. State. It was 1931, the country was in the grips of the depression, and money was tight. At the end of his first year of college, when the money ran out, Gordon returned home to "earn some money of his own."
Over the years, he said he tried a few different jobs — working for a contractor, and hauling cement in his dump truck during the construction of Clarksville's second bridge, for which he was paid $1 per hour. He also managed the floor of Clarksville's Planters Warehouse, and operated — with two partners — his own Virginia-Carolina Warehouse, but these jobs were always in addition to farming.
Gregg Gordon said of his grandfather, "Tobacco was his business, farming his passion, and hunting his sport." Those words alone do not fully define the man who was one of the founders of Sandy Fork Hunt Club, a past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Twin Rivers Masonic Lodge 338, a faithful member and trustee of Clarksville Baptist Church, a past recipient of the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement award, and a secret fan of the Hells Angels. He even had his picture taken with two members of the motorcycle club during their visit to Clarksville in 2015. The bikers were so taken with the 102-year-old Gordon that they shared his photo with them with clubs around the world.
On Friday, ahead of Gordon's funeral, grandson Gregg Gordon shared this final memory, a tribute to the man who he said made such a difference in his life and in the community. Gordon, a county supervisor, wrote, "Today we lay my grandfather to rest. At 103 years old, I knew this day would come just didn't realize how hard it would be to say good bye. He never gave in to a challenge while challenging and supporting family, friends and those he worked with. He loved and supported our families. He was our patriarch and much more. Today is the day to shed a tear for each year while he is dancing with his stars."
George William Gordon, Jr., was born in Mecklenburg County on December 27, 1912 to the late Annie Leigh Hobgood Gordon and the late George William Gordon, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Odella Woltz Gordon and his son, George William Gordon, III. He is survived by his daughter, Judith Elliott and daughter in law, Anne H. Gordon, grandchildren, Gregg Gordon (Anne), Eric Gordon (Stephanie) and Jocelyn Elliott (Buddy). Also surviving are great grandchildren, Patrick Johnson, Evie Gordon, Hayden Platzke, Mallory Gordon, Hannah Platzke and Charlotte Gordon.
His burial at Oakhurst Cemetery in Clarksville took place Friday, Sept. 30 with Masonic graveside rites.
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