John Gordon Girod

It is with great sadness we must announce the passing of our father, John Gordon Girod on February 27, 2023 at Penrose Hospital. He was surrounded by family and friends as he peacefully slipped away to join his wife, Shirley. His passing was unexpected and we are heartbroken to lose him.

He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley Ferguson Girod, his father, Clinton Severin Girod, Jr., and his mother, Mildred Smith Girod.

Gordon is survived by his 3 daughters and their husbands: Jane Ann and Jerry Rigney of Hawaii, Sharon Ann and Ronald Kicinski of California, Margaret Ann and Richard Rinker of Arizona, Himself the Cat, grandsons Nicholas Rinker and Galen Howe, great-grandchildren Cambri, Morgan, Victoria, Violet and Josie, and numerous grand dogs and grand cats.

Gordon was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and at age 2 months was baptized in the presence of his mother and father. His father died 2 days after Gordon’s baptism. In high school, Gordon was very active in the Air Force JROTC and made Eagle Scout. After graduating from Lake Charles High School in 1952, Gordon attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI is now known as Louisiana University at Lafayette) and continued his involvement in the Air Force ROTC and joined the AFROTC Cadet Choraliers. He graduated from SLI with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and attended Louisiana State

University completing a Masters of Arts Degree in English.

Upon completing his masters degree and marriage to Shirley, he reported to active duty in the U.S. Air Force, serving his country honorably and achieving the rank of Captain. He enjoyed a career that included teaching at the U. S. Air Force Academy, Managing Editor of the Aviation Yearbook, Technical Editor at Jeppesen Sanderson, Editor at Fuller and Dees Marketing, and a technical writer for several defense contractors. Shirley and Gordon met on campus at the Wesley Methodist Center on the first day of their freshman semester at Louisiana Southwestern Institute. That meeting began a 71 year journey which included 66 years of marriage, the birth of 3 daughters and a relationship based in friendship, filled with love and an unending commitment to care for each other. They lived their lives together following the motto of their college, Fortiter, Feliciter, Fidelitier (Boldly, Happily, Faithfully).

Together they practiced their faith in God and a commitment to community service. He was introduced to the Masonic family by his late father-in-law, Ancil Ferguson and it became a major part of his life. Gordon enjoyed being able to unite his desire to serve his community with his religious faith. His masonic family resume is quite lengthy, including serving as the adult supervisor for masonic youth groups, many....many years after his 3 daughters had moved out of the state. Gordon’s positions include Worshipful Master with

membership in several masonic lodges as his career moved him from Massachusetts, Missiouri, Alabama and Colorado. He was the Grand Guardian for the Colorado Jobs Daughters, Worthy Grand Patron of the Order of Eastern Star for the Grand Chapter of Colorado, Worthy Patron for the Glen Eyrie Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and Bethel Guardian for Job’s Daughters Bethel #23 of Colorado Springs. In addition, he was a Girl Scout troop leader, stepping up to lead a Cadet Girl Scout troop and earning the

nickname Fearless Leader. The camping trips to the Girl Scout camps, Kamp Kiwanis and Camp Humming Hills, became the stuff of legend.

A joint memorial service for Shirley and Gordon is scheduled for March 13, 2023 in the Lindbergh Chapel at First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs. It will be immediately followed by a graveside burial ceremony at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.