Gordon Gene Williamson

Dr. Gordon G. Williamson, DDS, 81, died in his daughter’s home in Peoria, AZ on Sunday, May 10, 2020, due to complications from dementia. He was born in Pontiac, IL on May 3, 1939 to Aubra and Lela Waive Williamson. He grew up in Pontiac, where his father was athletic director, coach, and assistant superintendent of the same high school Gordon attended.

Gordon was athletic and lettered in four sports all four years at Pontiac Township High School (PTHS), class of 1957. After high school, he attended Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL, (class of 1961) where he joined Sigma Chi Fraternity, as had his father and older brother, Richard. On February 27, 1960, Gordon married his college sweetheart, Della Kae Nelson.

After earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from Loyola University Chicago College of Dental Surgery (1964), Gordon served two years as a dental officer in the US Army at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. During that time, Gordon and Della explored the southwest and fell in love with the desert. Before leaving the Army, he took the Arizona State Dental Board Exam and secured an Arizona dental license.

When his Army service was complete, Gordon and Della moved their family back to his hometown of Pontiac, IL, where he opened his private dental practice and was active in the community. For several years, Gordon was an Elder at Pontiac Bible Church. He was also in the Kiwanis Club and served on the PTHS School Board.

In 1980, the family moved to Phoenix, AZ, where Gordon purchased the practice of a retiring dentist in Sun City, AZ. He said he never intended to retire from dentistry. He sold his practice in 2006 and continued to work in the offices of other dentists until his 75th birthday when declining health forced him into retirement. He was also active in his Arizona community at Northwest Community Church, Christ’s Church of the Valley, and Kiwanis.

Gordon loved playing golf, snow skiing, travel, and sports, including attending the games of his favorite teams. He was a season ticket holder for many years of the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2001, he and his brother were in the stands the night the Diamondbacks won the World Series. Gordon passed the love of skiing on to his grandchildren through annual family ski trips to Colorado.

Gordon is survived by his wife of 60 years, Della, and their children: Wendy Foss (Jay) of Peoria, AZ; Gary Williamson (Cindy) of Longmont, CO; and Dr. Jody Williamson, of Phoenix, AZ. He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren: Brent Williamson (Nicole), Parker Johnson, Christopher Pedersen, Mallory Johnson, Brandon Pedersen and Justin Foss, his brother, Richard L. Williamson (Judy) of Gainesville, GA, and many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents and an infant son.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Arizona Dental Foundation, to provide free dentistry for needy children, 3193 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, or Global Training Network, to provide Bible and leadership training for native pastors in nearly 80 countries around the world, PO Box 6507, Peoria, AZ 85385.