KINGSTON — Richard F. Gordon Jr., whose path took him from North Kitsap High School Class of 1947 to the Moon as command module pilot for the Apollo 12 mission, died on Nov. 6 in San Marcos, California. He was 88.

He was the namesake of Richard Gordon Elementary School in Kingston.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Astronaut Richard Gordon,” North Kitsap School District spokeswoman Jenn Markaryan said. “Mr. Gordon grew up in Kingston and was a graduate of North Kitsap High School. Richard Gordon Elementary is his namesake and the school celebrates his love of learning and adventure in their school-wide efforts each day. We will continue to honor and cherish Mr. Gordon’s life and work at Richard Gordon Elementary. Our hearts are with his family and friends.”

According to his online biography, Gordon was born on Oct. 5, 1929 in Seattle, attained the rank of Star in the Boy Scouts, graduated from North Kitsap High School, then earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Washington in 1951.

He received his wings as a Navy aviator in 1953, and in 1957 attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. He served as a flight test pilot until 1960. He won the Bendix Trophy Race from Los Angeles to New York City in May 1961, establishing a speed record of 869.74 mph and a transcontinental speed record of 2 hours 47 minutes. He logged more than 4,500 hours flying time.

He was selected by NASA in October 1963 for the Gemini 11 mission. In September 1966, he made his first space flight, as pilot of Gemini 11, alongside Pete Conrad, with whom he had served aboard the carrier USS Ranger.

In November 1969, Gordon flew as command module pilot of Apollo 12, the second manned mission to land on the Moon. He was assigned as backup commander of Apollo 15 and was slated to walk on the Moon as commander of Apollo 18, but that mission was cancelled because of budget cuts.

Gordon completed two space flights, logging a total of 315 hours and 53 minutes in space, of which 2 hours and 41 minutes were spent in EVA. Gordon retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy in January 1972.

After leaving NASA, Gordon served as executive vice president of the New Orleans Saints football team, and as president or vice president of various other science and technology companies. Gordon was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1982 and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1993.

Gordon had six children with his wife Barbara, who died in 2014. He had two stepchildren from his wife, Linda, who died Sept. 12 this year.

Markaryan said Gordon Elementary plans to recognize Gordon at the Veterans Day assembly at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 9. “Each October, the school celebrates Mr. Gordon’s birthday and will continue that tradition,” she said. “This year, as in years past, students sent birthday cards and letters to Mr. Gordon.”