Gordon Wilson Utter

Our loved one, Gordon, went to be with his Lord on Feb. 8, 2013. He was a courageous, kind hearted man who loved God’s beautiful creation especially the ocean and the mountains. He was a gifted poet who provided encouragement, wisdom, and inspirational words of God. He leaves behind his legacy of being a person that possessed extraordinary integrity, perseverance, and diligence in all the work of his hands and heart.

Gordon was born in Portland, Oregon, on July 9, 1928 and attended Elementary School and Rose City Park School; class of ’42 and graduated June 5, 1942. He attended Benson Polytechnic High School where he completed the Technical Course of Study and was the Technical Electric class Captain. He belonged to the Minutemen club; and was Secretary of the Optimist Club; Gordon was also a member of the Orange-B Club; the Skating Club; and was an excellent athlete and Tennis player. He attended Van port College from 1946-1948 which, later became the present day Portland State University.

Gordon was drafted into the US Army Oct. 1950 and served as a SGT (T). His most significant duty assignment was Med 180th Infantry Regiment APO 86. His decorations and accommodations included: Army Occupation Medal (Japan); Korean Service Medal, with one Bronze Service Star a Combat Medical Badge, a United Nations Service Medal and one Overseas Bar. He was Honorably discharged Sept 8, 1952.

Gordon was employed by Portland General Electric Co. from 1953-1991. Gordon bootstrapped his way from the automotive technical department using his military background and in 1954 he began working as a draftsman designing substations until 1962. During 1962 he moved to the Distribution Department of the Portland Service Center where he employed his extensive background in Substation Control Design. From there he moved into a position in field work in the Transformer Department. Later he transferred to the Standard’s Department where his many valuable contributions reshaped and invigorated the division. Subsequent to the Standard’s Department he took a position in the Western Division. Gordon applied and received, among many competing applicants, a valuable position in Customer Field Services in street lighting. When the CFS division was shut down by PGE Gordon moved into Sales. His remaining years at PGE were spent working with the Street of Dreams division where energy efficient homes were first introduced. Gordon’s effervescent personality and easygoing customer satisfaction skills along with his stellar organizational talents propelled into him a top performer and respected and valuable team member of Portland General Electric. Gordon retired May of 1991 after 38 years of faithful service.

Gordon and his wife Grace designed and framed their dream home in 1973 and Dad and Mom spent many enjoyable years after Dad’s retirement re-finishing antiques, making specialized light fixtures, creating stain glass windows, and many such creative construction projects that they both found extremely rewarding. Dad especially loved making beautiful rockery waterfalls that artfully blended into the natural landscape of their wooded property and Grace spent many hours creating a very eclectic interior admired and loved by all who were fortunate to visit the handcrafted residence made by Grace and Gordon.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years; Grace M. Utter, his daughters; Rebecca St. Denis, and Kathy Karp and her husband Ron Karp. His Grandchildren; Chris Parkinson and Carrie Salinas and her husband Wes Salinas; Israel Wilson and his wife Teckeish Wilson; Josiah Wilson and Samuel Lloyd, and seven Great Grandchildren; Tyler, Hailey, Abigail, Natalie, Sophie, Taja and Rylee.

A military funeral will be held on Feb. 19, 2013 at 11 a.m.at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, OR 97086

In lieu of flowers gifts can be made to Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation to the Heart and Vascular program.

To make a contribution:

Online: https://appsor.providence.org/giving/?foundations=8

This link will take them straight to the Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation donation page.

By Mail:

Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation

9205 SW Barnes Road, Suite 2111

Portland, OR 97225

By Phone:

Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation Office at 503-216-6627

Arrangements by Pegg, Paxson, & Springer Chapel in Beaverton, Oregon.