Philip Colton Gordon

Philip Colton Gordon, age 79, died at Hospice of Lancaster PA on June 18, 2010. He was a resident of Willow Valley Retirement Community in Willow Street, PA. Born in Upper Marion Township, PA, he was the son of the late Philip William Gordon and Grace Colton Gordon. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Clarissa Huntington Dyer Gordon, two children and their families: Lisa Gordon Olsen and Kirk Olsen and their children Kira and Svea, of Homer, Alaska, and Philip Randolph (Randy) Gordon and Kathi Kotellos and their children Zachary and Kaiya, of Arlington, VA.

Philip grew up in Elizabeth, NJ, and graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, NY with a BA in History and membership in the Sigma Nu fraternity. He then served in Germany with the US Army. Thereafter he lived in Warwick, NY for 47 years, where he was a member of Christ Episcopal Church. Self- employed, he was a salesman to the banking industry and received numerous awards for his outstanding work. He was an active member of the Bank Marketing Association and the Savings Institutions Society of America. Among his many interests were his family, travel, horses, and cars. He traveled extensively with his beloved wife Clarissa. His favorite places included Hawaii and Alaska; the latter he considered to be his second home.

More recently, Philip was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster, PA. A funeral service will be held there on Tuesday, June 29, at 2:00 PM in the chapel. A memorial service will be held at Willow Valley Lakes Manor on Wednesday, July 7, at 2:00 PM in the auditorium. He will be buried in the family plot in Heath, MA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Scholarship Fund at Little Hill-Alina Lodge, Box G, Blairstown, NJ 07825, or to St. James Episcopal Church, 119 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17601.