Mr. Garvin was born on November 23, 1921 in Hartford, CT the son of Harold Perry and Dorothy Warren Garvin.
Gordon grew up in West Hartford, CT. He attended Hall High School where he played hockey and other sports. He also attended Northfield Mount Herman in Gill, MA. He worked at Colt Firearms in Hartford as a final assembly quality inspector before honorably serving in the US Air Force in WWII. After the war, he joined the Massachusetts Air Guard as a captain where he flew the F86 Sabre Jet. During his aviation career, he piloted many different types of aircraft including the T6, B24, T33, B25, F80, F94 and F86. He became a member of the Mach Busters Club breaking the sound barrier in 1954.
He was self-employed for most of his adult life as a carpenter and home building contractor, building many homes in the West Hartford/Bloomfield/Simsbury and Old Lyme/East Lyme areas. Gordon was also a lifelong resident of Old Lyme where he summered with his parents and family at Hawks Nest Beach. He eventually settled there with his own family.
With a strong passion for fishing, golf, sailing, and tennis with family and friends, he remained active into his nineties. During his last years, he found pleasure trimming hedges and raking the beach at Hawks Nest.
He is predeceased by his son Dana Garvin (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=Dana-K-Garvin&pid=15104360 , and his brothers Robert and Perry Garvin. He is survived by his sister Dorothy Montgomery of Glastonbury; son Neal Garvin and his wife Joanne of Avon; daughters Lisa Garvin of Cromwell and Beth Garvin of Naples, FL and their mother, Joyce Bentley of Cromwell; Susan (Binky) King and her husband David of Lyme; daughter in-law Heather Garvin of Canton; Grandchildren James, Ryan, Gordon, Lauren and Liam Garvin, Crystal Adanti, Corey and Daniel King; Great-grandchildren Bryce and Micah Garvin. He is also survived by his dear friend and companion of 45 years Elise Garvin of Niantic, CT, and many wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and family who have brought immeasurable love and happiness to his life. A special thanks to his wonderful caregivers Paola Correa, Karen Lafarier and Laurie Crackenbury who provided him comfort and peace in his home.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 from 4:00 until 7:00 pm in Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Ln., Old Lyme, CT 06371. A celebration of Jiggs’ life will be held in the spring at Hawks Nest Beach. Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com and GordonGarvin.com for photos, tributes, directions and updated service information. Contributions can be made in his memory to: Hawks Nest Beach Jetty Preservation Fund, c/o Steve Rosenfield, 28 West End Drive, Old Lyme, CT 06371. These funds will be used to help protect and preserve the waterfront for generations to come.
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