GORDON, Loren Dale

David’s Desert Chapel Funeral Home, Wickenburg, Arizona Loren Dale Gordon (Commander, RET.) of Wickenburg, passed away on July 23, 2012. Loren was born on December 10, 1933 in Barr Lake, Colorado to the late Melvin and Maude (Rimmington) Gordon. He graduated from Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado and Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts. Loren then devoted his life to the US Coast Guard. He enlisted in 1954 and over the years he served in many capacities from a Deck Watch Officer in Alameda, CA to a Commanding Officer in Vietnam and his final assignment before retiring was an Executive Officer for the Marine Safety Office in Anchorage, Alaska. While stationed in Washington, DC the Coast Guard provided Loren with an excellent opportunity for program development. He wrote a model program for the Coast Guard responsibilities in port safety and marine environmental protection and also participated in the capacity of congressional liaison for these programs. Loren retired from the Coast Guard in 1977 and then managed Cook Inlet Response Organization (CIRO) in Anchorage. He developed and implemented innovative programs for CIRO in regards to oil spills and protection of marine life in Alaska. Loren retired in 1986 to Mesa, Arizona and moved to Wickenburg in —- with his wife Ruthie. He is survived by his wife Ruth, brother Mearl Gordon of Bullhead City, numerous nieces & nephews, great nephews Joshua Seely, his Godson and Jeremy Seely who is following in Loren’s footsteps in the USCG and a cousin Gordon Pryor in Wickenburg. In addition to his parents Loren was preceded in death by three brothers Arlie, Ray & Kevin and a sister Alice.