Biography of James Edward (Jim) Gordon

Jim was born on 21 February 1925 in Alameda, California. In the 1930 census age 5 Jim was living at 1733, Block 805, Branden, Oakland, Alameda, California with his parents James & Winifred, and widowed grandmother Sarah Ann. By 1940 age 15 he was living with his recently divorced mother at 4209 Terrace Street, Alameda, California.

Jim married Alice Wheeler in October 1947 - both graduates of Oakland High School. They had two children, Susan and Karen.

From his obituary in the Los Angeles Times:

"Known to friends and family as 'Jim', 'Dad', 'Pop', and 'Great Grand Pop', passed away January 5, 2018 in Thousand Oaks, Ca. His wife of 70 years, Alice, and family were by his side. Jim was 92. A third generation Californian, Jim was born in Oakland to James and Winifred Gordon. After graduating from Oakland Technical High School, Jim enlisted in the US Navy. He received a commission as Lieutenant James Gordon in the US Naval Reserves before going on inactive duty. Fresh out of the Navy, Jim took a position with Pacific Telephone and worked his way up through the executive ranks of both AT&T and later Pacific Telephone, retiring as the Vice President of Business Marketing. Jim served on the board of directors for many organisations: Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, and Blue Cross of Southern California. After retiring from Pacific Telephone Jim and Alice bought an orange grove in Ojai, Ca. Jim called himself a 'gentleman farmer' with Sunkist Growers for 13 years. In 2000 Jim and Alice moved to Thousand Oaks Ca. He had a love for sailing and also seeing the USA from his mobile coach. Jim loved college football, KFC, and martinis. He's survived by his wife, Alice, half sister Diane, daughters Susan and Karen, their families."