Final Salute

William “Flash” C. Gordon Obituary

William C. Gordon Chief Boatswain’s Mate, age 86, of Meridian passed away Monday, July 3, 2017.

Born in Cleveland Ohio, William joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. Serving in the Korean War and Vietnam, he learned to speak Vietnamese prior to his second tour there served aboard river patrol boats. After the war he served in the Panama Canal Zone and after a 30 year career he retired at NAS Meridian in 1978.

He and his family retired in Meridian preferring to rake pine straw rather than shovel snow. Following his Naval career, Flash was active in the Fleet Reserve Association and Masons, supported the MHS band and football programs, worked as a bank courier, studied nursing and elementary education, worked for Loomis Armored Trucks and delivered the Meridian Star. He enjoyed line dancing and clogging with Lauderdale County Country Dancers, Bob’s Line Dancers and Sunshine Line Dancers. He performed in several Meridian Little Theater productions, and worked with youth as a member of Community Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Marlene Ann Gordon; daughter, Mary Gierlach (Edward Jr.); three grandchildren, two stepchildren, Marty (Lisa), Marlinda (Ricky), six step grandchildren, seven great step grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Wiser; father, William Louis Gordon; and sister, Dorothylee Lewis.

Committal services will take place at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at Sunset Memorial Park. Please meet at Sunset Chapel, 6245 Columbia Rd., North Olmsted, at 1:45 p.m., where procession will form.

The family requests memorials be made to the Disabled American Veterans. www.dostalbokas.com