Gordon T. Stanhope Sr.

Westbrook- Mst. Sgt. Gordon T. Stanhope Sr. USAF, Ret., 83, of Mayflower Rd. died peacefully on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough following a long illness. Gordon was born in Portland, Maine on August 30, 1931 the son of Matthew Gordon and Dorothy B. Watt Stanhope. He attended local schools including Portland High School. He enlisted and served in the United States Air Force while also earning his high school diploma. Gordon started his career as a Merchant Marine in 1947. After marrying Lorraine S. Henderson in 1948 he enlisted in the United States Air Force serving in many places around the world including Korea as a radio operator and then Vietnam as a radar site builder. Earning the rank of Master Sargent Gordon was very proud of his twenty seven year career in the Armed Forces. Following retirement from the Air Force, Gordon furthered his education earning his MBA from the Westbrook College in 1980. He made the Whos Who in American Colleges with his 4.0 grade point average. He worked for a short time at Cessna AC as parts manager and part owner of Maine Tour and Travel at the Portland Jetport. In his spare time he was an active member of the Portland Masonic Lodge and The Shriners, Gordon enjoyed traveling with his wife to the islands and Europe, he enjoyed photography and working on clocks, cracking jokes and making everyone laugh and feel loved. His greatest love was his family, he loved them all and was so proud of each one, his wife and family were everything to him. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Scarborough Veterans Home for the care and compassion given to their father during his 14 month stay with them. He loved his time there with his comrades and new friends. Gordon was predeceased by his wife Lorraine S. Stanhope on August 13, 2013; a sister Gail Stubbs and a brother Robert P. Stanhope. He is survived by a son Gordon T. Stanhope Jr. and his wife Mary-Jo of Scarborough; two daughters Mary Lou and her husband Bob Norell of SC and Jenny Lee and her husband Dean Martin of OH; 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 10:00am to 12:00noon at the Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland followed by a service at the funeral home at 12:00noon. Burial will follow in Forest City Cemetery, Lincoln St., South Portland. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com Those who wish may make contributions in Gordons memory to: Westbrook Animal Refugee League, PO Box 336, Westbrook, ME 04098 or the Maine Veterans Home, 290 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.