James Gordon

James Rufus "Jimmy" "Stick" Gordon, 87, of Spartanburg, SC, died Thursday, April 2, 2015, at Spartanburg Medical Center. Born October 12, 1927, in Mullins, SC, he was the son of the late James Rufus Gordon and Elsie Rogers Gordon. He was married for 62 years and dated for 7 years the late Blanche "Bonnie" Bellamy Gordon. A U. S. Navy veteran of World War II, Mr. Gordon retired as an agent from New York Life Insurance. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, an Elder Emeritus, and former president of the Spartanburg Sertoma Club. As an alumnus, Jimmy was the founder and a member of the Wofford Terrier Club. He was also the former president of the Terrier Club and Alumni Association. While at Wofford, he was a member of the Block W Club and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. As a football end at Wofford, "Stick" played on the 1949 undefeated team known as the "49ers". He earned second team All-State honors in 1950 and served as an alternate captain on Wofford's 1951 team. He was a Class of 1952 graduate and was inducted into the Wofford Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986. Mr. Gordon was the president of the PTO of Pine Street, Evans Junior High, and Spartanburg High Schools. He was a volunteer coach for Spartanburg's Youth Boys Baseball and the founder of the first Latch Key after care and tutorial program in South Carolina held at First Presbyterian Church where he taught 6th Grade Sunday School and later helped with the Men's Sunday School Class. He was a Board officer of the Spartanburg YMCA and the Spartanburg Country Club. He was an active golfer and a member of the Senior Golfers Association of SC. Survivors include his daughters, Claircy Kate Purinton (Doug) of Spartanburg, SC and Susannah G. White (John) of Jackson, TN; grandchildren, Gordon White (Kristen), Andrew White, Bellamy Purinton, Wilson Purinton, Forrest White, and Kathelene White; and one great-grandchild, Caroline Anne White. A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 11, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church, 393 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29302, by the Rev. Dr. Tom Evans. A reception will follow the service in the church Parlor. Private burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 393 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302; First Presbyterian Church-Missions, 1573 Highland Avenue, Jackson, TN 38305; or Phil Dickens Endowed Athletic Scholarship c/o Wofford College Terrier Club, 429 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303. The family would like to thank the wonderful people who took care of our Daddy at White Oak Manor and the staff on the 8th floor at Spartanburg Medical Center. The family is at the home. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James "Jimmy" "Stick" Rufus Gordon please visit our Sympathy Store.