Obituary of Gordon H. Carlson

Gordon H. “Gus” Carlson Sr., of 6 Bel Aire Dr. Titusville, died Sunday October 11, 2009 at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Erie PA of congestive heart failure. He was 84 years old. He was born October 18, 1924 at Daniel’s Nursing Home in Titusville, PA. He was the son of the late Arthur W. Carlson, Sr. and the late Eileen Robbins Carlson. He married the former Betty M. McNellie on March 9, 1942, in Covington, Kentucky. She preceded him in death on January 18, 1997. They had been married 56 years. He enlisted on the United States Marine Corps on December 8, 1941 at Buffalo, NY at the age of 17. Following boot camp he was assigned to “B” CO, 1st Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as a machine gunner. During World War II he served in 4 major campaigns; Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. He received a Navy Commendation Medal with a combat “V”. He was honorably discharged on March 19, 1946 in Philadelphia, PA. He was recalled to active duty again on September 10, 1950 for the Korean War. He served at Camp Lejeune, NC until his honorable discharge on June 1, 1953. He was a charter member of the Captain Robert Lee Green Detachment of the Marine Corps League. He was elected Commandant of the Department of Pennsylvania, Marine Corps League in May 1976 and served until 1978. He was appointed as the National Chief of Staff of the Marine Corps League and served until 1980. He was Chairman of the National Awards Committee from 1985 to 1995. He served as a member of the National Scholarship Program from 1978 to 1995. He formed the local and state Scholarship programs for the Marine Corps League. He received three citizenship gold medals and in 1989 was honored to be selected as the Marine of the Year for the Department of Pennsylvania Marine Corps League. He had been employed as a car salesman for more than 50 years beginning with Lee Coates & Sons of Titusville; Truck Manager for Berglund Chevrolet, Jamestown, NY; Salesman for Thomas Chevrolet, Union City, PA; Salesman for Dailey Chevrolet Truck Sales of Erie, PA; Salesman for Quality Motors and Sales Manager for Dick Brown Ford, Salesman for Colbert Auto Sales of Titusville. He also was the president of the Titusville Feed Mill Restaurant. He was a member of the Captain Robert Lee Green Detachment of the Marine Corps League, Cleo J. Ross American Legion Post, Bruce Shorts Post 5958 Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Guadalcanal Veterans Organization. He is survived by four children; Carole T. Stone of Erie, PA; Gordon H. Carlson Jr. of Titusville PA and The Villages, Ocala FL, Bradford S. Carlson of Erie, PA; and Major Steven C. Carlson (USMC Ret.) of LaPlata, MD.; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Patricia Langworthy of Titusville and Ruth Slater of Rumford, RI. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Arthur W. Carlson and Wallace Carlson; and two sisters, Barbara Quinn and Gwendolyn Slater. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and on Friday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at which time the funeral service will be conducted with Dr. Barry E. Cressman, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery with full military rites. The family asks that memorials be made to the VFW Scholarship Fund. FLOWERS