Gordon Howard Walrod

Gordon Howard Walrod, 86, died Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in Montgomery, Alabama. He leaves his companion, Sherry Gilliard; his sister Elizabeth Thomas; his two sons, Daniel Walrod and Mark Walrod; and daughter, Victoria Nack; his six grandchildren: Lauren Walrod Buchman, Hal Walrod, Clarke Walrod, Paige Walrod, Jeremy Nack, and Alyson Nack; and his great grandson Jacob “Jake” Nack and great granddaughter Harper Buchman. Gordon was preceded by his wife, Lauretta Ensell “Sue” Walrod and son, Matthew Walrod.

Gordon was born in 1929 in Wellsville, New York to father Howard Walrod and mother Dorothy Burrows Kemp. After graduating from Wellsville High School in 1948, he enlisted into the Air Force where he served for four years. While in the Air Force, Gordon met his wife Lauretta “Sue” Ensell and they were married in Great Lakes, Illinois in 1952. Upon leaving the Air Force, Gordon attended the University of Kansas where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering in 1956. He earned a Master of Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1970. Gordon had a lengthy career as a mining engineer having worked with US Steel in West Virginia, Lykes Resources, Inc in Pittsburgh, PA; and Ingram Industries in Nashville, TN.

Throughout his life, Gordon enjoyed bowling, golf, gardening, cooking, traveling, and family. Most of all he was passionate about his children. Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad. To his children, he was their special Dad.

A funeral mass will be at Noon Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary. Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass at the church. Military honors will follow the mass. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.