March 20, 1927 - January 17, 2018 In accordance with his wishes cremation will take place and a memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018, beginning at 10:30 AM, at Centerpoint Church, 2345 10th St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 9:30 AM. Interment will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery with military honors. |
|
Age 90, went to be with the Lord on January 17, 2018. Gordon was born in Chicago, IL, on March 20, 1927, the son and only child of the late June F. and Katherine Patric. Gordon’s new birth came at age 8 when he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He rededicated his life to the Lord’s service while in his early 40’s under the evangelistic message of Dr. Ben David Lew, a completed Jew in Christ. It was during this same meeting that Gordon’s whole immediate family came to know the Lord in salvation. Gordon was a father that led his family toward Jesus. During WWII Gordon served in the Navy as a Seabee. He was dedicated to serving the United States of America and to preserving freedom in the world. As he was too young to enlist, his father had to sign for his enlistment. Gordon served with dignity and honor and was active during his whole life toward maintaining Constitutional freedoms in this country. Gordon was a kind, loving and respectful man who had a keen mind. He loved to learn, research and teach. He received his PhD in Political Science/Constitutional Law in 1952 from the University of Illinois. He taught at Indiana University and later Liberty Baptist University in Lynchburg, Virginia where he received his full professorship. In 1969, Gordon published his book, The Vietnam’s of the Green Berets. As a superior researcher and with a good mind for logic he had unknowingly created, by his research, the military strategy for a certain phase of the Vietnam war and the book had to be secured by the military and withheld from the public until that specific part of the war had passed. His children and grandchildren were his greatest joy. He never ceased to want their company. One of his greatest joys was his participation in homeschooling his grandchildren. He became a staunch proponent of home education and stated that there is, “no other education system that even comes close to the efficiency of homeschooling. It has no limits”. Gordon was a man with a mind that was ahead of its time. Though he has passed from this earthly life at age 90, he never seemed to grow old while he was here both in mind and body. He enjoyed being physically active and earned a Brown Belt in Tae Kwon Do during his adult life. Gordon was married 57 years to the love of his life, Zoe (Dominici) Patric who preceded him in passing. He never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife. Gordon was also preceded by his parents. Gordon is survived by his three children, Leslie (Roger) Catt, Edward (Sherry) Patric, Lynn (Joey) Leavitt; four grandchildren, Elijah Patric, Caleb Patric, Kaila Leavitt and Aliya Leavitt listed in order of their birth. |