Gordon L. Smith

"Though my father and mother forsake me the Lord will receive me."Psalm 27:10 Gordon moved to his heavenly home on his birthday, March 31, 2025. He was 104. He was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and moved to Portland when he was seven. He and his sister Jerry (Geraldine) were essentially raised by their Grandparents in Portland. When Pearl Harbor was attacked Gordon joined the navy. He requested quarter master school and was then assigned to the LCI 43 (Landing Craft Infantry) and was on that ship for two years, doing navigation. At that time, they used the stars, a sextant, and a stopwatch, which was used to maintain Greenwich England's exact time to learn their position. He thought his watch was great because he got to see the sunrise and the sunset. Gordon's ship was among the invasion fleet of southern France. Some of the battles where Gordon saw duty were in Arzew Algeria, Sicily, Italy, and Bizurti, North Africa.Gordon believed his grandmother's prayers brought him home. After four years in the navy he returned home to Portland.Pursuing his bachelor's degree, he worked delivering telegrams and learned Portland well. He remembered when the highway to Beaverton was a two-lane road. He had a successful career in business and finance and retired in 1991 at the age of 70. Gordons faith in his Lord and Savior began early with his grandmother. He was a member of the Fourth Plain Nazarene Church. When asked, "How are you?" His answer was always, "I'm blessed." Indeed, he was blessed with excellent health, a love for his Lord, and his love of his fellow man. Gordon loved funny hats, making someone laugh and always the water. He wished he had been born a hundred years sooner and been a sea captain. He learned he had a half sister when he was 70 years old, but they only had one tender meeting. Gordon was preceded in death by his sister Jerry Cieloha, his daughter Jill Scharpf, his former his granddaughter Genna Smith, his half sister Bobby Tutwiler. He is survived by his wife Sharon, his son Geoff, his grandson Emmett Smith, his granddaughter Madeline Scharpf, and his great grandson Lochlin Scharpf. There will be a Chapel Memorial Service at Evergreen Memorial Gardens on Monday, May 12, at 10: 00 am followed by hospitality from 11-12, then a Willamette National Cemetery Committal Service at 1 pm.

Gordon L. Smith

March 31, 1921 - March 31, 2025