Gordon Arthur Eaton's Obituary
Gordon Arthur Eaton, 81, of Alliance, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 10:10 p.m. at Canterbury Villa of Alliance after a long illness. Born on August 23, 1931 in Syracuse, NY, he was a native of Tully, NY and a 1949 graduate of Fabius Central High School. A veteran of the Korean War, he served our country in the U. S. Army as Army Specialist 3rd. Class in Oahu, Hawaii at the Schofield Barracks. Gordon obtained an Associate Degree in Animal Husbandry from Morrisville College in Central New York, a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Education and a Masters Degree at The Ohio State University in 1959. Mr. Eaton taught in Andover, Ohio for his first two years. He then spent most of his career at Marlington High School where he was the Founding Advisor of the FFA Program teaching Agriculture and Natural Resources. He had the privilege of having a student named National All Star Farmer in 1976 at a National Convention of Future Farmers of America before his retirement in 1983. Following retirement he helped in restoring Barns with a childhood friend, Tom Woodford in NY state. He was also an avid reader of anything he could get his hands on and was also a huge fan of MASH and Hogan's Heroes. Mr. Eaton was a member of the Advent Lutheran Church in Uniontown and the Alliance Area Retired Teachers Association. He was a member of the Marlboro Lions Club, and the Seminole, Florida Lions Club in the winter, where he served in several offices and worked tirelessly for various projects including the Eye Bank. Gordon was a kind, generous man, an enduring husband, and loving father to his four children who will miss him beyond words. Survivors include his daughter and caregiver, Jill (Robert) Simms of Alliance; three sons, Mark Eaton of Seminole, FL, Geoff Eaton of Kenmore, OH and Bryan Eaton and his fianc Rachel Fear of Akron; two brothers, Keith (Linda) Eaton of Columbus, OH and Darryl (Linda) Sanford of Clay, NY; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Margaret Barnes of Wolfeboro, NH; cousins, Janice Hamblin, Sandy Kendall and Martha Mawson, all of New York; and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was his wife of 48 years, Lois Marilyn (Barnes) Eaton on November 10, 2003, whom he married on June 29, 1955; his parents, Clarence Eaton and Bernadine (Vanhorn) Sanford; his stepmother, Vivian Eaton; a step-father, Warren Sanford; parents-in-law, William and Florence Barnes; and his lifelong best friend of 71 years, Leland Houck. The family wishes to thank Canterbury Villa of Alliance Alzheimer Unit and the Alliance Visiting Nurse and Hospice for the wonderful care they gave to Gordon. A Lions Club service will be held at Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home on Friday, May 3, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. The family will receive friends at Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home on Friday, May 3, 2013, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. His funeral service will be held at Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Bob Cheyney of the Advent Lutheran Church in Uniontown officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Marlboro Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Sharer-Stirling-Skivolocke Funeral Home, 1000 S. Union Avenue, Alliance, Ohio 44601.
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