BOMBER MEMORIAL

GORDON LAWRENCE "GORDY" ANDERSEN ~ Class of 1954
May 23, 1934 - February 23, 2013





Gordon L. Andersen passed away on February 23, 2013, at the age of 78. Gordy, as he was known by most, was born in Yankton, SD on May 23, 1934, to Clarence and Mary Andersen. Clarence moved the family from Yankton to Richland in 1943 to take a job at Hanford as a Procurement Specialist.

Gordy attended Columbia High School where he was a standout athlete lettering in basketball. After graduation in 1954, he served in the US Army as a Military Policeman, receiving awards for pistol and rifle marksmanship. After an Honorable Discharge, he went to work at Hanford for General Electric as a Radiation Monitor. In 1965, he transferred to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where he remained until his retirement in 1994.

Gordy had one child, a son. He raised his son from an early age. The two of them spent untold days together hunting Native American artifacts, fishing the Columbia River, and traveling the Pacific Northwest. Gordy was an avid gardener with a particular fondness for roses, winning numerous awards in local and regional shows. Gordy and his wife enjoyed fishing, going to yard sales, and making numerous road trips to casinos, not to mention the nearly daily trips to Costco!

Gordy was well known and loved by everyone who knew him. Friends described Gordy as the most giving person they had ever met. He was known for having a trunk full of farm fresh produce that he would give away to friends and acquaintances. He would routinely take holiday dinners to people he knew were alone or could not provide for themselves.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Mary, his sister Mary Kae Dewey-Enger ('56), and his brother Jim ('61).

He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Barbara, son Cameron (Becky), two grandkids Amanda and Tyler, step children, Christy Harthun, Mike Kunkler, and Catherine Kunkler and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 1st at 11am at Sunset Memorial Gardens, followed by a Celebration of Life at the Richland VFW. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice at the Chaplaincy or the VFW.

Express your thoughts and memories in the online guest book at Einan's Funeral Home.