Charles O. 'Orv' Gordon

Mason City – Charles O. “Orv” Gordon, 94, of Mason City, died Thursday, November 16, 2011 at the Good Shepherd Health Center. A Celebration of Life will be held 10:30 A.M. Monday (November 21, 2011) at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. A gathering of friends and family will be held 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday (November 20, 2011) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Broaddus, TX. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa or Good Shepherd Health Center. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com. Charles O. “Orv” Gordon was born May 25, 1917 in Lake Mills, IA, the son of Otis T. and Clara (Savre) Gordon. He graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1934, Waldorf College, and the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. During WWII he served as a Lieutenant JG in the United States Navy aboard the USS Pompon. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He was united in marriage to Ruth Green on May 25, 1946. She preceded him in death on January 15, 1985. Following the war, he was the owner/operator of Gordon Hardware in Lake Mills for nine years, after which time the family moved to Mason City. He was the Allstate Insurance Company general agent in Mason City for 31 years, retiring in 1986. On June 20, 1987 he was united in marriage to Dorothy Smith. They lived in Clear Lake until returning to Mason City in 2004. Orv’s activities included Senior Chamber of Commerce of Clear Lake, V.F.W., and times spent at the lake home in Nisswa, Minnesota. He was a past member of American Legion and Lions Club. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for over 50 years, where he enjoyed the Wednesday morning men’s Bible study and many other activities. Orv is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Mason City; daughters, Sharon Meyer and husband Bob of Mason City, and Linda Buzzetti of Deerfield Beach, FL; step-daughter, Kathy Bartilotta of Denver, CO; step-sons, Kip Smith and wife Sherrie of Helena, MT, and Doug Smith and wife Jane of Barrington, IL; five grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Don Gordon and wife Ruth of Normal, IL; sisters-in-law, Janiece Gordon of Albert Lea, MN, Allie Gordon of San Clemente, CA; brother-in-law, Bill Vinzant and wife Bonnie of Centerville, IA; and many nieces and nephews He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Ruth in 1985; three brothers; and four sisters.

Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa or Good Shepherd Health Center.

Cemetery:
Inurnment will be held at a later date in Broadhus, TX.

Visitation:
A gathering of friends and family will be held 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday (November 20, 2011) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Service:
A Celebration of Life will be held 10:30 A.M. Monday (November 21, 2011) at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating.

Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa or Good Shepherd Health Center.

Visitation:
A gathering of friends and family will be held 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday (November 20, 2011) at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Service:
A Celebration of Life will be held 10:30 A.M. Monday (November 21, 2011) at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating.