Melvin Vernon Gordon

COLUMBIA –Melvin Vernon Gordon, 86, was born in Ladysmith, WI on January 22, 1930 and resided in Columbia, SC passed away at Palmetto Health Richland on February 16, 2016. A Mass of Catholic Burial will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 1- 2:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service. A private burial will be held at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery. Dunbar Funeral Home Northeast Chapel is assisting the family. Gordon honorably served our country in the Army and Air Force Reserves, was involved with the DEW Line project in Point Barrow, Alaska, was a business owner of Gordon’s Service, truck mechanic, grounds maintenance director for Kershaw County and Fort Jackson. He loved working with his hands whether they were full of grease from the shop, dirty from his garden, playing games with his grandchildren, folded in prayer, or holding the hand of his wife of 64 years. He is survived by wife Caroline Gordon, son Dan (Janiece), son Edward (Susan), daughter Melanie Benik (Michael), and son Wallace (Rhea) Gordon, 10 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4124 Clemson Blvd, Ste L, Anderson, SC 29621 or to St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 100 Polo, Road, Columbia, SC 29223.