Reverend Gordon Dewolfe Barss, 94, of Dartmouth, died Tuesday, December 14, 2010. Gordon was born on February 13, 1916, in Pithapuram, India. He attended Kodaikanal School in South India and Horton Academy in Wolfville. Gordon received a BD from Acadia University in 1936, and was ordained in 1938. He married Rolanda Ilsley in 1939 and later that year they went to India as missionaries with the Canadian Baptist mission. They worked in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, India for over 40 years.
They retired from the mission field in 1980, and lived in London, Ontario where they were active members of First Baptist Church. In 1989 they went to Kenya for a year as volunteers with the Baptist mission. Gordon was honored with a Doctor of Divinity degree from Acadia University in 1992. In 1998 Gordon moved to Dartmouth and attended First Baptist Church.
Gordon is remembered for his curiosity and sense of adventure that inspired him to live his life to the fullest. His journeys between India and Canada took him around the world, usually by ship. In each city he visited he liked to walk for hours, exploring and taking in the sights.
Gordon was predeceased by his wife Rolanda (1996), his son David (1974), and his sister Edith Taylor (1999) of Dartmouth.
Gordon is survived by his children, Bill and Marcia Barss (Dartmouth), grandchildren Sharon Clark (Paul Black) and Andrew Clark (Kendra Thorne), great grandchildren Liam, Niall, Trinity, Roan and Megan; and sister-in-law Marcia Ilsley (New York).
Sincere thanks to the staff at Oakwood Terrace, Dartmouth, for the care they provided to Gordon in his later years.
A celebration of Gordon’s life will be held on Friday, December 17 at 2:00 p.m. in First Baptist Church, 100 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth, NS. A reception will follow the service when friends may share memories with the family.
Donations in his honour may be made to Theological Education in India, Canadian Baptist Ministries; Acadia University; UNICEF or a charity of choice. Cremation has taken place under the direction of A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.mattatallfuneralhome.com
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