Sep 5, 2013

Army veteran worked as a coal miner

Clarence R. “Killer” Gordon, 85, of Washington, died Tuesday, September 3, 2013, in Washington Hospital.

He was born July 4, 1928, in McConnells Mills, Chartiers Township, a son of the late Clarence R. Gordon Sr. and Alice Mull Gordon Thompson.

Mr. Gordon had worked as a coal miner and also worked for the former G.W. Peoples Railroad Construction Co. of Pittsburgh.

He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of IBPOE Lodge 6 of Washington.

Mr. Gordon loved his family and enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren competing in sports. He also spent time at the casino, enjoyed gambling and shooting dice.

On November 20, 1952, he married Barbara Jean Patterson, who died May 13, 2005.

Surviving are seven children, Mary Porter (Lenny), Virginia McGlone, Letha Gordon (Gary Garrett), Bradford Gordon (Danielle), Clarence R. Gordon III (Brooke Taylor), Ruben Gordon (Betty) and Patricia Gordon, all of Washington; 22 grandchildren, James, Tiffanie, Justin, Ethan, Bradford Jr., Eden, Letha, Ruben Jr., Mya and Tajah Gordon, Richard and Wesley Lassic, Amber McGlone, Megan and Joseph Monroe, Thomas Jr. and Jaylin Kelly, Mina Haley, Kevin Heyman, DeQuay Isbell, Travis Crutcher and Austin Scott, all of Washington and Brandon of Florida; 23 great-grandchildren; a stepson, William Tyler of Washington; a sister, Sonya Bailey of Washington; a brother, John “Bake” Thomas of Washington; a special nephew, William Chandler of Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

Deceased are a son, George Raymond Gordon and a grandson, James Edward Gordon.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Friday in McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home Ltd., Robert K. McIlvaine, owner/supervisor, 27 Cherry Avenue, Houston, PA 15342. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 7, in St. Paul AME Church, Washington. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray. Condolences may be left by viewing the obituary at www.mcilvaine-speakman.com.