L. James Gordon

A memorial service celebrating the life of L. James (Jim) Gordon will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, July 9, 2021 at the United Church of Granville, 115 W. Broadway, Granville. Private interment with military honors will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery, Granville.

L. James (Jim) Gordon died June 17, 2021.  He was born March 17, 1927, the son of Dr. Leland J. and Doris Gilbert Gordon.

Jim was a 1945 graduate of Granville High School, a 1950 graduate of Denison University and a 1953 graduate of Yale Law School. He was a member of the scholastic honoraries Phi Beta Kappa at Denison and Order of the Coif at Yale. He was a founding partner of the firm of Morrow, Gordon & Byrd, retiring after 59 years as a practicing attorney.

Jim was a veteran of World War II.  He served with the U.S. Army Air Force in the Central Pacific Theater.  Jim served as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1940.  He earned his pilot’s license at age 17 in 1944.

Jim was past president of the Licking County Bar Association and former chairman of the Negligence Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association.  He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Foundation and the Ohio Bar Foundation.  He was an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Jim was also active in community affairs having served as a member of the Granville Exempted Village School District from 1969-1980 and as president from 1971-1980.  He was president of the United Way of Licking County, president of the Granville Foundation, president of the Mental Health Association of Licking County, president of the Newark Kiwanis Club, and president of the Granville Rotary Club, receiving their Service Above Self award.  He was a former elder of the Second Presbyterian Church of Newark and a member and former moderator of The United Church of Granville.  He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, Center Star Lodge No. 11F&AM, the Licking County Shrine Club and American Legion Post #398.  He was a Director on the National Board of the Kendal Corporation from 2000-2003 and served as a trustee on the Kendal at Granville Board 1998-2009. 

He is survived by his wife, Jane B. Gordon, whom he married on June 10, 1950, sons and daughters-in-law:  Dr. J. Douglas and Mary Gordon of Washington, DC, and John S. and Janet Gordon of Granville; daughter and son-in-law, Leslie G. and Philip K. Liebscher of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, and grandchildren, Katie Gordon Field (Tyler), Shannon Gordon Escario (Michael) and Alan H. Gordon, and three great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Janet G. and Rev. Gordon Forbes.

His family was pleased to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary with Jim and Jane the prior weekend.                      

Contributions may be sent to The United Church of Granville, 115 West Broadway, Granville, Ohio 43023, or Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road, Newark Ohio 43055.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com

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