Gordon Joseph Michaels passed away peacefully at his home at 10584 Wallis Run Road, Trout Run, Pa., on Nov. 21, 2012, at the age of 82. He was born on May 9, 1930, the son of John H. Lunger and Ida M. (Murphy Brown) of Barbours, Pa. He is predeceased by his brother Harold Brown, Wallis Run, Pa., and two sisters, Myrtle Blair, Wallis Run, Pa., and Eva Pepperman, Lock Haven, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Cleo Arlene Lela Tietbohl, June 12, 1954, of New Market, Md., and three children, Cathryn A. (Andrew) Jackson, Trout Run, Pa., Cheryl L. (Alan) Sands, Queen Anne, Md., Carole A. (Edward) Tilmont, New Market, Md. He has five grandchildren, Marina C. (Joshua) Pearce, Lansing, Mich., Thomas G. Jackson, Trout Run, Pa., Isabella A. Tilmont, Rosalia P. Tilmont, Zachary F. Tilmont, New Market, Md.
Gordon graduated from Montoursville High School in 1948, Trenton Junior College ASEE in 1957 and Bucknell University BSEE in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army from Jan. 25, 1954 through Jan. 19, 1956 stationed at the U.S. Army Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. He was active as a Republican Committeeman for Cascade Township, the Executive Committee of the Lycoming County Republican Party, and served as the Judge of Elections for Cascade Township.
Gordon worked at Ternstedt Division of General Motors, Detroit, Mich., completed his tool and die apprenticeship and worked as a tool and machine designer on components for GM models through the 1959 model year, also he was a senior engineer in facilities planning. At M&T Chemical Division of American Can Co., Matawan, N.J., he was market manager. In 1993, he retired from Foster Wheeler Corp., Ullrich Copper, Kenilworth, N.J., as Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing.
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Gordon Joseph Michaels
Gordon had been active in these professional societies: IEEE Institute of Electrical Engineers, AESF American Electroplaters and Surface Finishing Society, SME Society of Manufacturing Engineers, SMME Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, TMS The Metals Society, CSA Cryogenic Society of America, AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science, ASM The Materials Information Society, HSRA The High Speed Rail Association, AWS The American Wire Association. He was listed in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in Engineering, Men of Achievement, International Biographical Center, Strathmore's Who's Who.
Gordon enjoyed entertaining his many friends and family, and particularly enjoyed playing golf as often as he could. The most important thing to Gordon was his family as he said: "I think that I am most proud of a family of three daughters, each of whom has established herself in a responsible position in a major organization. We have several grandchildren that are very successful in their educational endeavors. This is particularly gratifying for me. As some of you know, I was a ward of the county living in foster homes from an early age through high school. I was with a very caring family most of the time and I consider them relatives, but it still left an emptiness that my grandchildren do not face."
Friends may visit with respect at Spitler Funeral Home, 733 Broad St., Montoursville, on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a service held at the funeral home on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at 10 a.m., immediately followed by a graveside service at Barbours Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Wallis Run United Methodist Church, 717 Kimble Hill Road, Williamsport, PA 17701.
