Gordon Bess

Gordon W. Bess, 95, of 144 Brainerd Street, Danville passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

Gordon was the oldest male resident of Danville at his passing and was proud to have received that recognition.  He got a kick out of riding in a vintage car during the Danville Fair parade in 2015.

Gordon was born in Meriden, Connecticut on March 20, 1921, the first son of Walter and Mildred (Martindale) Bess.  He attended schools in Meriden, enjoyed riding his bike, hiking, stamp collecting and was a member of the Fife and Drum Corp performing on his fife.

Gordon entered service in 1938 and served at Ft. Wright on Fishers Island, NY, in the Army artillery. At age 18 he then attended officer-candidate school, from which he graduated in 1942 as a 2nd Lieutenant.  During WWII, he was stationed at various locations in the United States and around the world including the Panama Canal Zone, Hawaii, Saipan, and Taiwan.  He served in such positions as Chief Clerk, Assistant Adjutant, Warrant Officer, and Artillery Advisor before retiring from the Army in 1959 at the rank of Major.

Gordon met his wife, Gerry, at Fort Dix, New Jersey in the summer of 1946.  They married on December 21, 1946 in Fort Amador, Panama and then moved their expanding family throughout the 58 years of marriage to various duty stations to which he was assigned to.

After retiring in 1959, they lived in Meriden, Connecticut, while Gordon attended Central Connecticut State Teachers College and graduated in 1962 with a degree in mathematics.  To support his growing family, he worked summers as a straw boss in Connecticut's tobacco fields.  Around the same time renovations were completed on the family home, which extended an upstairs bedroom (living room) out into a kitchenette, bathroom and bedroom for Gordon's parents, a temporary arrangement until rooms opened up in the Walter Bradley Home for the Aged in Meriden.  His parents enjoyed the privacy and comfort of their little upstairs “apartment” but also enjoyed the company of Gordon's family.

Gordon taught school in Connecticut for six years, and during the summer months, he and Gerry would drive up to Vermont and scout around the little towns for available houses.  During these drives, they visited St. Johnsbury Academy.  In 1968, he was offered a job at the Academy as a mathematics instructor, and stayed for 14 years.  Over the course of a few years he fixed up the house he purchased in Danville wallpapering the many rooms and painting the outside, skills he learned from his father.   With such a large family, he and Gerry plowed and planted a large garden as well as adding fruit trees in order to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits all year round.

In 1977 Gordon planned a two-week trip to Washington, D.C. with the three youngest children as he felt that every child should visit their nation's capital.  It was a trip that was remembered by all and included visiting special sights such as the Pentagon, the Capitol and the Washington Monument along with many of the Capitol's museums.

Every summer, trips were planned to both Dexter, Maine and Meriden, Connecticut.  This included staying at the family camp in Maine where they enjoyed playing bridge long into the night. When visiting his family in Connecticut they spent time at his sister's house helping with the gardens, playing cards and relaxing.

Once he retired from teaching, Gordon became a familiar sight around Danville, spending his time tending the flower beds around the flagpole, the war monuments and in front of the town hall.  Every day for year's he raised and lowered the flag in front of the town library.   He was an active member in the American Legion Post #53 and held a variety of positions. Gordon enjoyed listening to his classical music while sitting in a recliner gifted to him by his children.  Most of the time, however, he never heard the music as he most always fell asleep.

He served several years on the Danville School Board and was instrumental in helping the school dig out of a financial crisis.  For many years he provided routine maintenance, as well as financial bookkeeping, for the senior citizens apartments.  He was pleased when they were able to pay off their federal housing loan five years earlier than expected.

Gordon's next hobby was genealogy.  He started with his mother's side of the family and spent many hours, days and years scouring books and papers at libraries and town offices in numerous locations.  Often he and Gerry would depart on short trips to do research and visited many cemeteries along the way.  He was very proud that he was able to document his ancestry back to several of the original passengers of the Mayflower.  For many years the family tree hung in the upstairs hallway for visitors to view.  Along with his sister-in-law, Charlene Page, he began documenting Gerry's side of the family continuing with this work up until a few years ago.  He wanted to make sure that his children and grandchildren knew who their ancestors were and where they came from.

Gordon is survived by his daughter Linda Bess of Danville; daughter Laura Daudelin and husband Mark of Waterbury; son Richard Bess; and daughter Judith Morse and husband Wendell of Vergennes; grandchildren Kate Daudelin Baker and husband Will, Alexa Daudelin; Scott, Ryan and Jade Houston, Conner Morse; Roderick Bess; Keith, Kirstyn and Gabriella Bess; and five great-children, Henry and Ellie Baker; Kiandra Bess; Owen and Jackson Bess.  He was predeceased by his wife Geraldine in 2004, his son Kenneth in 1995, his son Alan in 2011, his sister Lois in 2004 and brother Ronald in 2013.  In addition, he is survived by his sister-in-law Christine Bess, sister-in-law Charlene Page and daughter-in-law Adelma Drost, along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Special thanks go out to caregivers Pam Bowser, Sarah Coutu, Winona Gadapee and Alexa Daudelin along with long-time friends and neighbors Gary and Barb Fontaine, Tim and Anna Somers and Heather Bowser.

Visiting hours will be held in St. Johnsbury at the Sayles Funeral Home Friday evening, March 10, from 6-8 p.m.

Memorial services will be held in Danville on Saturday afternoon, March 11, at 2 p.m. at the Danville United Methodist Church on the green with the pastor, the Rev. Susan MacKay, officiating.

Burial will take place at the Danville Green Cemetery later in the spring.

Memorial contributions may be directed to:  The Danville American Legion Post #53, c/o Pamela Smith, 296 Breezy Hill Road, St. Johnsbury, VT  05819

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.saylesfh.com.  The Sayles Funeral Home is located at 525 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury.