Gordon M. Punshon

Gordon was born February 2, 1936 in St. Louis, MO, the son of Marvin and Myrtle Punshon. In 1947 his family moved to Orlando, FL, where Punch was a 1953 graduate of Boone High School. After high school graduation, he attended Emory-at-Oxford for one year, transferring to Emory University in Atlanta, where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in psychology, and was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity.

On July 24, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Moormann. In 1958 Gordon started a career with the Florida State Employment Services. He and his growing family lived in several locations in Florida, as his career progressed: Jacksonville, Hollywood, Ft. Walton Beach, and Tallahassee. Gordon and Shirley developed great friends where they lived and raised their families. In 1975 Gordon became the youngest Director of Employment Services in history. His career in the FL State Employment Service spanned 33 years, retiring in 1992. After retirement, he traveled to Poland to consult with four Baltic Nations in setting up their government employment services after the fall of Communism.

Punch's greatest passion in life was spending time with his family, most especially his grandchildren. His wife and family were a key source of pride and importance to him. He was an avid Florida State Seminoles fan over the past 40 years. He was known throughout his life for his sense of humor, service to the community, and camaraderie with others. He was a life-long Episcopalian and a 40-year active member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Tallahassee, where he was a lay reader, lay Eucharist minister, senior warden, usher, and vestry member. He was a past FL State president of I.A.P.E.S. , and an active Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Auxiliary volunteer, where he installed Lifeline systems. He also enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe. The Punshon family has great memories of their many camping trips across the country.

His survivors include: Shirley, his loving wife of 59 years; his daughters: Sharon Powell (David), Tallahassee, FL and Janice Herbert (Peter), Atlanta, GA; his sons: Alan Punshon, Tallahassee, FL, and Jeffrey Punshon (Jessica), Evans, GA; his grandchildren: Parker Edwards, Tallahassee, FL, Drew Edwards (Catie), Troy, AL, Christopher & Caroline Herbert, Atlanta, GA, Kristen Punshon, Tallahassee, FL, Ali & George Punshon, Evans, GA, and one great-granddaughter, Alex Edwards, Dothan, AL, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Michelle Covington, his sister-in-law, Janet Anderson, and his granddaughter, Allison Edwards.

Family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm, Friday, January 16, 2015 at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 815 Piedmont Dr., Tallahassee, FL. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 17, at The Episcopal Church of the Advent, the Reverend G. Randall Sartin officiating. Burial in Roselawn Cemetery will follow. Memorial contributions may be made name to The Episcopal Church of the Advent, Big Bend Hospice, Salvation Army, or the charity of your choice.