Michael David "Dave" Gordon joyfully went home to the Lord on January 22, 2025 after an extended illness.
Dave was born on August 18, 1942 in Oscilla, Georgia to Michael & Ann (McGee) Gordon. His family moved around the US and abroad with the US Army Air Corp and US Air Force due to his father's military career. Dave enjoyed the adventures of traveling and exploring new places with his parents and brothers, but his happiest childhood memories were of the years he spent in Moultrie, GA on the family farm, especially with his grandfather, Dave McGee.
Other favorite childhood homes include Bangkok, Thailand and Madison, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Madison East High School in 1960. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison prior to enlisting in the US Army, where he became an expert rifleman and marksman.
He served in the 3rd Signal Corp stationed at the border of East Germany during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his military service, Dave returned home to his family in Atlanta, where he worked as a buyer for Lockheed Corporation. He met his future bride, Carolyn Hulsey at Wieuca Road Baptist Church, where they worshiped and served together. After they married in 1969, Dave graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and Southeastern Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Dave served as a youth pastor at Knightdale Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC, and as senior pastor at Dobson Chapel in Kenansville, NC before spending 25 years as the senior pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Earl, NC. He found great joy in shepherding and caring for his church family and community and sharing the love of Christ with them. In turn, he was richly blessed by the lifelong bonds of friendship formed by growing and serving together. Love of farm life never faded, and Dave could be found daily in his gardens at sunrise and sunset, happily tending his sprawling vegetable patches. It was his favorite place to talk with the Lord and with anyone who wanted to pick vegetables or weeds with him. He loved to snow ski and golf with his brothers and children, and playing sports of all kinds. He was always game for an adventure, from taking the youth at church white water rafting or the senior adults to the mountains to see the fall colors. He treasured his dear wife Carolyn for 54 years, continually looking for ways to take care of her and remind her how much he loved her, even when he was sick and needed her to help him. From the ski lift to the doctor's office, Dave never met a stranger and became fast friends with everyone he met. He was quick to offer a warm smile and laughter, prayer and comfort, or the gift of a quiet presence and a listening ear.
Dave is preceded in death by his parents and his dear cousin Nancy Clayton. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn (Hulsey) Gordon, his daughter, Amy Eichholz (Jim) of Milwaukee, WI, his son Bryan Gordon (Sara) of Gastonia, NC, and his brothers Jeff Gordon (Marcille), and Randy Gordon of Dickson, TN. Some of his happiest days were spent caring for and having adventures with his five grandchildren, who know and love him as their "Dat:" Wyatt Eichholz of Milwaukee, WI, Ben Eichholz of Annapolis, MD, Bethany Eichholz of Rhinelander, WI, Annelise Eichholz of Milwaukee, WI and Weldon Gordon of Gastonia, NC.
A memorial service with military honors will be held Saturday, February 1, 2025, 2:00PM in the Chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at 1:00PM. Pastor Russ Bradley, Dr. Carroll Page, Reverend Keith Dixon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse Ministries. Dave and his family would like to thank his medical teams for caring for him so skillfully and with such kindness (and humor) throughout the many years of his medical journey.
Online condolences may be made at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Rev. Gordon. |
