Gordon Engel Christman

Gordon Engel Christman, 84, passed peacefully from this life and into the arms of his Lord and Savior on September 23, 2024 at his home in Carrollton, Texas. He was surrounded by his loving family who have walked by his side during his nine-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Gordon was born on August 26, 1940 to Harold and Helma Christman in Miltonsburg, Ohio. He was the youngest of three sons and attended a one-room schoolhouse for 8 years where his mother was his teacher. Gordon graduated from Woodsfield High School with Honors in 1957 at the age of 16. In August of that year, he attended The Ohio State University where he graduated in 1962 from their five-year graduate plan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

After graduating in 1962, Gordon was hired by Mobay Chemical Company in New Martinsville, West Virginia to work in their Engineering Department. He held a variety of technical and supervisory positions in Plant Engineering. While working for Mobay Chemical, Gordon met the love of his life, Sharon Kuhn. They were married on April 11, 1964. They welcomed two of their three children in the following four years…a daughter in 1966 and a son in 1968.

In 1970, Gordon accepted a position to be a member of the Project Team assigned to build a new production facility for Mobay Chemical in Baytown, Texas. In 1971, he was appointed Maintenance Superintendent for the Baytown startup plant. His family joined him in Texas in July of that year and their new journey began. Gordon and Sharon welcomed their third child, a daughter, in 1977.

Throughout his distinguished career with Mobay/Bayer, Gordon held numerous positions, including Maintenance and Production Superintendent in 1971, Manager of Plant Services in 1977, and was named Plant Manager in 1980. He held this position until 1986 when he was transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was appointed Director of Corporate Customer and Distribution Services. In 1990, Gordon was transferred back to Texas and was appointed Vice President and General Manager of Bayer Baytown where he held this position until his retirement in 2001. This transfer brought him and his family back to Texas where they resided in Clear Lake City, Texas.

During his tenure with Mobay/Bayer, Gordon held many Chairman and Board member positions. These included the Baytown Chamber of Commerce; Baytown and West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation; Texas Chemical Council; East Harris County Manufacturers Association; Baytown Plant Managers Network; Associated Chemical Industries of Texas; Houston Business Roundtable; and Communities in School. Gordon was also a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

In 2001, and after 39 years of faithful service, Gordon retired at the age of 61. Following retirement, he and Sharon traveled the world and visited almost every continent with groups of friends. Gordon was an avid golfer and coin collector. He played numerous golf courses around the world, but his favorite golf was his time at Bay Oaks Country Club with a great group of friends called the Bay Oaks Old Boys Society, better known as the “BOOBS”.

In January 2016, Gordon was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimers. After living in Clear Lake City, Texas for 27 years he and Sharon moved to Carrollton, Texas to be closer to family. Gordon attended Prestonwood Baptist Church and was a member of the Agape Sunday School Class.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Helma Christman and his brother Walt Christman. He is survived by his devoted wife of 60 years, Sharon; son Steven Christman and daughter-in-law Kimberly of Huntersville, North Carolina; daughter Jill Ash and son-in-law Darron of Frisco, Texas; daughter Kelli Foster and son-in-law Joe of Carrollton, Texas; ten grandchildren Lauren Stangel and husband Nick, Parker Ash and wife Maggie, Laken Weeks and husband Jordan, Preston Ash, Claire Christman, Jack Christman, Kate Christman, Luke Christman, Blake Foster, Nicole Foster; seven great grandchildren Landry Stangel, Stone Stangel, Briggs Ash, Sage Ash, Wells Ash, Cooper Weeks, Belle Weeks; brother Gene of Dundalk, Maryland and several nieces and nephews.

Gordon was a man of faith, high integrity and strong convictions. No matter the challenges he always did the right thing and you always knew where he stood on issues. He loved his Lord and Savior and cherished his family who was his pride and joy. Gordon’s family meant the world to him and what he would consider his greatest accomplishment. His family and many friends will miss his huge smile, love for life, big bear hugs and strong, firm handshakes.

A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends on Friday, September 27th at 1pm in Faith Chapel at Prestonwood Baptist Church, 6801 W Park Blvd, Plano, Texas. A private graveside service will follow at Rolling Oaks Memorial Center in Coppell, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org/northcentraltexas or the North Texas Food Bank, 3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, Texas 75075.

Our family would like to recognize Gordon’s many caregivers from Dignity Hospice and Heaven at Home, who took care of his every need with love and compassion. A very special thank you to Zypranza, (lovingly known as Zippy), who was Gordon’s loyal and dedicated caregiver for the past two and a half years.