Gordon Russell Fawcett Jr. was referred to as residence to be together with his Lord on June 4, 2025, simply weeks earlier than celebrating his sixty fifth wedding ceremony anniversary together with his beloved spouse, Mary.
Born on June 21, 1937, in Middleboro, Massachusetts, Gordon was the son of Gordon Sr. and Ida (Knickman) Fawcett. As a younger man, Gordan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and strongly supported Boy Scouts his whole life. He was additionally a member of the Middleboro Chapter of DeMolay.
A proud graduate of Norwich College in Vermont, he earned his diploma in 1959 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USA Military in 1960.
That very same yr, Gordon started a profession with the Central Intelligence Company in Washington, D.C., the place he met Mary Gilkerson of Falls Metropolis, Nebraska. The 2 have been married on June 25, 1960, starting a lifetime of affection and repair collectively.
Gordon devoted 20 years to energetic responsibility within the U.S. Military, retiring in 1980 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel within the Armor Corps. His distinguished navy profession took him throughout the globe, with assignments in Germany, Korea, and varied U.S. places together with Fort Hood, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, the place he served as a Army Science Teacher on the College of Dayton.
A Vietnam fight veteran, Gordon served with distinction in the course of the TET Offensive as Operations Officer for the first Battalion, 69th Armor—proudly reminding others that “sure, the Military had tanks within the jungle.” He later performed a pivotal function in serving to the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California, combine rising applied sciences into their fight operations.
He earned a Grasp of Science diploma in Pc Science from the Florida Institute of Know-how by way of the Military Pc Science Faculty at Fort Harrison, Indianapolis. One in every of his ultimate navy assignments took him to Fort Huachuca, Arizona and Los Angeles, California, the place he led the event of a computer-driven mannequin simulating a 100-division Russian invasion state of affairs—an revolutionary effort that supported intelligence and command operations for NATO.
After retiring from the Military, Gordon continued serving the nation by way of civilian roles in software program techniques mission administration and protection intelligence. He contributed considerably to nationwide safety applications whereas working with INTERCON Company and later with Science Functions Worldwide Company (SAIC), the place he led navy area initiatives for 20 years.
In 2001, Gordon and Mary relocated from La Palma to Murrieta, California. Deeply dedicated to supporting the navy group, Gordon performed a number one function in revitalizing the Higher Los Angeles USO, serving as Chairman of the Board for a decade. Underneath his management, the Bob Hope Hollywood USO at LAX, together with facilities in Ontario and Palm Springs, served greater than one million service members and their households.
He was additionally a driving power behind the creation of veteran’s memorials in Murrieta, honoring those that served in each U.S. battle by way of the Vietnam Struggle. As President of the Murrieta Veterans Memorial Basis, Gordon helped make these tributes a long-lasting legacy within the coronary heart of town.
Most lately, Gordon and Mary made their residence in Granite Falls, North Carolina. They have been longtime members of Murrieta United Methodist Church and extra lately joined Abernethy United Methodist Church in Rutherford Faculty, North Carolina.
Gordon is survived by his devoted spouse, Mary, and their three daughters: Kelley Anderson (John), Tracy Hymes (Kirk), and Leslie Fawcett-Putman. He leaves behind seven grandchildren—Mathew Hymes (Melanie), Ryan Hymes (Alyx), Morgan Thurston (Robert), Craig Anderson (Melissa), Lauren Anderson, Sean Putman, and Maria Putman—in addition to three great-grandchildren: Aiden, Charlotte, and Finn Hymes.
Gordon lived a lifetime of trustworthy service, enduring love, and beneficiant management. He can be remembered with deep admiration and nice affection by all who knew him.
Funeral companies for Gordon Russell Fawcett, Jr. can be held on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Abernethy United Methodist Church. Interment can be at 10:00 AM on Tuesday June 10, 2025 on the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, 962 Outdated US Hwy 70 in Black Mountain, NC.
The household will obtain pals from 9:30 – 11:00 AM at Abernethy United Methodist Church.
Donations in lieu of flowers could also be made to:
The Murrieta California Veteran’s Memorial. Directions may be discovered at https://www.murrietaca.gov/450/Donations.
Or to the Saint Stephens Lutheran Veterans Mission. Please go to https://www.sslcms.org/give and choose the “Veterans Help Mission” fund within the drop-down menu.
