Obituaries

Frank N. Gordon Jr.

Photo of Frank  N. Gordon Jr.
Frank N. Gordon Jr., 88, of Germantown, Tenn., formerly of Little Rock, died May 1, 2013 at Baptist Trinity Hospice. He was born in Portland, OR to Louise and Dr. Frank N. Gordon, Sr. He graduated second in his class from Fayetteville High School. During his first year at Westminster College, he joined the Navy and transferred to Iowa State College, where he earned a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering. Later, he went on to earn an MA Degree in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and an MA Degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He worked for a few years at Alcoa in Pennsylvania as a welding engineer, but most of his career was in the insurance industry, as Sr. Vice President and actuary at First Pyramid Life and later at First Variable as Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary. Upon his retirement, he opened ActuPlan, a pension consulting firm. He formerly attended Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and also served as Chair of the Board for Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp. He later joined Henderson Methodist Church, where he was active in the choir. He was active in the Civil Rights Movement as Chair of Petition in the STOP campaign, among other progressive social activities. He also joined the march from Selma to Montgomery with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1965. He was an accomplished sailor, writer, and musician. He was a member of the Little Rock Sailing Club, built his own sailboat, and sailed in many races on Lake Ouachita. He played the clarinet, and occasionally saxophone, in many bands and orchestras. He wrote many stories, most notably his original musical Jonah!, based on the Biblical story, which was performed at Little Rock's Rep Theatre. In between retirements, Frank travelled extensively along both US coasts, to Hawaii, Portugal, Spain, England, Scotland, and France. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Jane Gordon Varner and her husband, Ned, his parents, brother, Dr. Stewart Gordon, and sisters, Jerry Wakefield and Mimi Corlette. He is survived by his wife, Jean Lind Gordon, children, Dr. Anne Gordon Perry (Tim) and Tom Gordon, his former wife, Jean Gordon Clancy, stepchildren, Derek Lind, Tedra Lind Duck (John), and Jarrod Lind (Richard), his grandchildren, Austin, Tyler, Parker, Will, Matt, Lauren, and Kathy, his great-grandchildren, Joshua and Lucy, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held in Little Rock at Henderson Methodist Church, 13000 Baseline Road, on Wednesday, May 29 at 6 p.m. Donations in Frank's memory may be sent to any local animal shelter.

Published May 24, 2013

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