Gordon Spillinger (Maj. USAF Ret.) passed away peacefully Feb. 6 at Indigo Hall, Charleston, SC. He was born in Rahway, NJ, March 26, 1935. He was a graduate from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA and did additional course work in meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also achieved the status of “Master Jumper” logging more than 200 parachute jumps on military maneuvers. Because of his weather forecasting skills and his status as a paratrooper he was assigned to Army Weather support for the majority of his career.
He worked with members of the 1st Cavalry, 5th US Army, 18th Airborne Corps, and 101 Airborne. He retired from Offutt Air Force base after 20 years of service. The family then moved to Port Orchard, WA where Gordon and his wife of 54 years, Maxine, retired but remained active in community affairs for 43 years before moving to Charleston, SC.
Gordon liked to tell of the fond memories he had from Gettysburg College. When he was asked to be a golf caddy for President Eisenhower when the President played the local course.
In addition to his wife Gordon is survived by a brother, Ralph Spillinger of Bainbridge Island, WA. Surviving also are sons, John Gordon and Matthew Harry of Port Orchard, daughter Margaret (Peggy) Harris (Stephen). And grandsons William Gordon and Walker Max of James Island, Charleston, SC.
Memorial services were private.