Obituary of Captain Archer Robert Gordon

He was born January 15, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York where he attended Xavier High School and St. John College before being commissioned in the US Navy in 1940. He began his naval career as an officer aboard the Chemong (attack oiler) and later trained in submarine warfare in Groton, CT. He and his first wife, Virginia (Utz) of Port Washington, Long Island were married in 1942 in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral, NYC. Arch served aboard the submarine USS Sea Robin as XO 1948-50 and as CO 1950-1952. He was CO of the submarine USS Sea Dragon stationed in Panama for 2 years followed by a rotation at the Office of the Pentagon in Washington, DC. From 1955 to 1958 he was stationed in Hawaii where he was the Division Commander overseeing the the development of the Regulus I and II missiles and the outfitting of the submarines USS Tunny, Tusk and Carbonero. Arch also served in US Naval Intelligence in Norfolk, VA under President John F Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early '60s. From August of 1963-December 1964 he was Captain of the USS Hassayampa (attack oiler) stationed at Ford Island, HI after which he served as Commander of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Training Facility located there. From March 1966-July 1967 he served as Captain of the USS Boston (CAG 1 guided missile cruiser) and was twice sent to the waters off Vietnam. After the Vietnam war, Arch served as Naval Attaché to the United Nations in NYC. He retired from the Navy in 1969 and in 1979 moved to the Pacific Northwest (Fox Island and Tacoma) where he lived out the remainder of his life. He was active in Rotary for many years, and enjoyed much travel and reading. He is survived by his 2nd wife, Virginia (Williamson); son Donald and his wife Peggy, Ashland ,OR ; daughters: Judith, El Valle, Panama and Pamela, Denver,CO: a grandson, and a grandaughter. He was preceded in death by his first wife, three sisters and a brother. The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the skillful and compassionate professionals who lovingly cared for Arch in their homes during the last 9 years of his life. Memorial Mass to be held date, time still pending. Memorial Mass to be held 4:00 PM Friday, February 17, 2006 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 7112 S. 12th St., Tacoma, WA Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center, 253-566-1008