Obituary of Joseph Gordon

The family of Rev. J. Douglas Gordon of Fredericton, NB wishes to announce his passing at the Fredericton Hospice House following a lengthy illness. Doug was a retired Presbyterian minister who served at St. Andrews in Fredericton from 1967 to 1972. Born in 1926 in Peking, China (Beijing), he was the son of Dr. Simeon Moore Gordon (Chicago, Illinois) and Jessie Irene (Winchester) Gordon (Victoria, BC). After living in China for several years and then returning to the US with his parents and siblings, Doug moved from California with his family to Ontario, Canada in 1930, later becoming a Canadian citizen. Near the end of WW II, he enlisted in the Canadian Navy and served briefly as an able seaman. He was the last of 5 brothers to serve in WW II, having lost two of them while serving as Canadian Air Force pilots. Following the end of the war, Doug attended the University of Toronto where he obtained a B.A. He worked for a short time as a teacher before returning to the U of T’s Knox College to complete a theology degree to become an ordained Minister. In 1956 he joined the Canadian Army where he was commissioned as a Captain (Chaplain). He first served as the protestant chaplain for the Van Doos in Val Cartier, P.Q, and then at Aldershot, near Wolfville, N.S, with the Black Watch. He resigned his commission in 1960 while remaining in the Reserves for several years. As a Presbyterian minister, Doug moved his family frequently as he accepted various appointments by churches in Ontario and New Brunswick. These included Guelph, ON, Ingersoll, ON, Fredericton, NB, Brantford, ON, Toronto ON, Mitchell, ON and Southampton, ON. He was a past member of the Kiwanis, and the Lions Club in several communities throughout his career and was an active participant in other community initiatives. Doug enjoyed reading and walking and had a love for good food, fine scotch whiskey, travel to many countries, which he and Marjorie did together for many years, and his family and friends, with whom he liked to socialize. He was predeceased by his wife Marjorie Ruth (Kirk) Gordon, daughter Deborah Anne Gordon, four brothers, and three sisters. He is survived by his three sons, Kirk Gordon (Inna) of Fredericton, NB, Paul Gordon of Vancouver BC, Richard Gordon of Victoria BC, special friend Doris Stairs of Fredericton, brother Alan Gordon of Toronto, ON, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Fredericton Hospice House, Canadian Cancer Society, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church or per donor’s choice. Memorial Services will be announced at a later date. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com