Gordon Williamson

Dates

Obituary

Gordon Morris Williamson, a decorated Navy pilot and Vietnam veteran, passed away on December 17, 2022, at the age of 82 at his residence in Mitchell South Dakota. A Celebration of Life will be Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel. Graveside services with military honors will be 1:00 PM Friday, July 28, 2023, at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.

Gordon (fondly called Gordy and Gordo by many) was born on March 8, 1940, to Mr. Alvin Wayne Williamson and Mrs. Dorothy Madeline (Gurney) Williamson in Mitchell, South Dakota.  He was a descendant of the Norwegian and English immigrants who settled in South Dakota.

After graduating from Mitchell High School in 1958, he went on to study at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.  He was an active member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Gamma Alpha chapter, serving as Pledge Educator.  He continued to support the chapter after graduating into his later years. 

Upon graduating from the University of South Dakota in January 1963 with an A.B. in Arts and Sciences (Mathematics), Gordon joined the United States Navy and entered the Naval Aviation Officer’s School in NAS Pensacola, Florida as an Aviation Officer Candidate earning his wings with the rank of Ensign on May 24, 1963.  Gordon completed multiple flight training tours, including Advanced Flight Training as a H-13 and H-34 helicopter pilot.  He was stationed in NAS Rota Spain and served as a H-2 helicopter pilot.  Gordon was then deployed on the USS Blue and served as a Search and Rescue pilot and on the USS Constellation as Plane Guard.   In January 1968, he was stationed in Meridian, Mississippi, and transitioned to Jet airplanes as a flight instructor and primary Jet trainer with Training Squadron 7.  In 1970 he was stationed in NAS Miramar, California, and transitioned to flying the F-4 Phantom II fighter jet.  He completed multiple tours of duty flying the F-4 Phantom II fighter jet with the VF-92 Sliver Kings fighter squadron off the USS Constellation on missions over Vietnam.  Gordon was also stationed at NAS China Lake and NAS North Island during his final years with the Navy as a test pilot.  Gordon served his country and the United States Navy honorably for twenty years, finally retiring in 1983 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  Gordon was awarded numerous medals and citations including the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with 2 Gold Stars, Air Medal Strike Flight, and Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars.  

After retiring from the Navy, Gordon pursued his passion for the outdoors.  He moved to Alaska and was a bush pilot and enjoyed hunting (shot a black bear) and fishing for King Salmon in the Kenai River.   In the later 80s, Gordon lived in Minnesota and Arizona obtaining his professional golf certification and working as a golf pro for many country clubs.   To be closer to his daughter, Gordon moved to Apopka Florida in 1990 and became active in the bird dog training community, establishing his own dog training program and kennel known as War Bird Dogs.  He also enjoyed bass fishing and planting orange and key lime trees in Florida. 

In the early 2000s, Gordon moved back to Mitchell and enjoyed building his property, planting corn and soybeans, fishing on the local lake, and planning annual pheasant and deer hunting adventures with friends. He also farmed in Aurora County, close to his former grandparents Maurice and Ida (Lien) Williamson.  During his later years in Mitchell, Gordon loved going to town wearing his favorite pair of red boots and driving his red Corvette. 

Throughout his years, Gordon made life-long friendships.  If he was your friend, he did not take that commitment lightly and cherished the bonds and memories he made.  Gordon got a kick out of sharing stories, especially those that would make you laugh to tears.  Gordon also loved teaching and sharing his knowledge with others.  Of course, he had set opinions on many topics which he rarely wavered.  Over the years Gordon had many hobbies. He loved to fly, dance, sing, paint (loved his paint pens and puffy paints), draw, build (made an entire dollhouse), carve, whittle, make knives, hunt, fish, trap/skeet shoot, farm, rebuild cars (57 Chevy for one), journal, write hand letters (a written thank you note was a must!), collect guns, cars, and motorcycles and even invest in the stock market.   He was very meticulous and if he was going to do something, he was going to accomplish it and do it the best he could.  One of the favorite reminders he shared with his daughter, was never to cry over spilled milk.  He dedicated his life to serving his country and commit to leading a life well lived, staying true to his core values and cherishing time with his dearest friends and family.  

Gordon will be remembered as a loving devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend along with his passion for the outdoors, witty sense of humor, intelligence, love of dogs, and loyalty who was an American hero and served his country with honor.

Gordon is survived by his one daughter, Alana (Williamson) Barkley, and three grandchildren James Stewart Walker III, Charles Gordon Walker, and Adaline Claire Barkley all from Alpharetta, Georgia.  He is also survived by his sister VeeAnne Sykora of Belvidere, Illinois, niece Lyn Wallis, of Dexter, Missouri, and nephew, David Sykora, of Southport, North Carolina. 

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