Gordon Manter Sr.

Gordon Leo Manter Sr., of Roswell NM, loving, dedicated, and devoted husband for 63 years to Eleanor Rose, surrounded by family, passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. He was 86 years old. Ancestral records tie Gordon's family to Cape Cod in 1657. Landmarks in his lineage include Manter's Point, a small area located at the intersection of Plymouth Harbor and Plymouth Beach.

Gordon was born December 1, 1929 in Newton MA. He attended Newton public schools before joining the US Navy. Answering the call to duty at the end of World War II, Gordon enlisted in February of 1946. Known to his crewmates as "Slim" (he was 6'7" tall), Gordon toured the world on the destroyer USS Mills (DE-383, home ported at Chelsea Naval Yard).

As a Navy corpsman during the Korean conflict, he was attached to the First Marine Division. During the winter of 1950, Gordon and his comrades experienced the coldest winter on record in Korea while fighting the battle at the Chosin Reservoir. Survivors of that battle are a very close knit fraternity known as the "Chosin Few", of which Gordon was a very proud and active member. Among many medals and citations, Gordon earned a Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon and several Presidential Unit Citations.

He served his last tour of duty at the Chelsea Naval Hospital. Gordon retired honorably in April 1966, at the rank of Chief Petty Officer, after more than 20 years of service to his country. His Navy career provided him an endless number of friends and comrades, many of whom he remained close to throughout his life.

After retirement, Gordon attended and graduated from Coyne Electrical School of Boston and went on to earn his State of Massachusetts Journeyman's and Masters electrician licenses. In the greater Boston/Newton area, G.L Manter & Sons Electrical Contractor completed hundreds of projects for the Store 24 Corp., Friendly's and Brigham's Companies, among others. Gordon was very active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Elks Lodge. He loved to travel, both abroad and stateside in his motorhome with his family. Flying was another passion of Gordon's and he earned his private pilot's license. In 1977 Gordon and his family moved to Roswell, NM.

Gordon is preceded in death by his sisters Helen and Eleanor, brothers William and Robert and son his David.

Gordon is survived by his adoring wife Eleanor, his son Gordon Jr and wife Rhonda of California and their two children Morgan and Hunter, daughter Debra and husband Mark of Kansas City, MO and their children Steven (his wife Anna) and Kevin, daughter Mary Beth and husband David of Roswell and their children Samantha (her husband Kris, great grandson Kase) and Chelsea, and son Paul and wife Lynn of Mississippi.

Visitation will be held at Ballard Funeral Home in Roswell, NM from 6:00 - 8:00 pm Friday, July 15, 2016. Graveside services will be at the General Douglas McBride Veteran's Cemetery at 9:00 am, Saturday, July 16, 2016 with Roswell Veteran's Honor Guard conducting graveside services. Honorary pallbearers are David Lawrence, Kris Ward, Mark McKee, Steven McKee, Kevin McKee and Hunter Manter.

In lieu of flowers, Gordon asked that donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN, 38105.

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Friday, July 15, 2016
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Service

Graveside Service

General Douglas McBride Veteran's Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Saturday, July 16, 2016
9:00 am

Cemetery

General Douglas McBride Veterans Cemetery
3101 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

St. Judes Childrens Hospital
332 N. Lauderdale
Memphis, TN  38105