Pete Patrick Gordon, 52, died December 13, 2016, at The Arc Forever Home in Zion, PA surrounded by family and friends. Born November 18, 1964 at the Fort Devens, Massachusetts Army Hospital he was the son of Don and Patti Gordon. Pete suffered from the advanced aging effects of Down Syndrome and dementia.
When Pete was only six weeks old he moved with his family to Bavaria, Germany for three years. He grew up as an “Army brat” and attended schools in many different states. He graduated from State College Area High School in 1986. Throughout his life he enjoyed the companionship of his sisters Cathy and Michelle who were close in age. Pete lived with his family for 51 years until he moved to The Arc Forever Home in January of 2016. Over the next eleven months he was provided such loving and excellent care by the nurses and staff at Forever Home.
Pete was a long-time Penn State fan and multiple-sports Special Olympics participant. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 339, a troop sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega for young men with intellectual disabilities. Pete earned 29 merit badges and the rank of Eagle Scout, as well as the Order of the Arrow.
With assistance from The Arc PROGRESS program, Pete worked for 17 years at Omega Bank and its predecessor People's Bank as a paper shredder. He enjoyed walking to Ye Olde College Diner for lunch and shopping in the downtown stores. When Pete retired in 1992, he took a motorhome trip to Alaska with his parents. He enjoyed travelling over 130,000 miles in their Winnebago to every state in the continental United States and down the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. He loved Las Vegas and the nickel slot machines, watching parachute jumps at Fort Benning, petting the grey whales in Baja, the numerous beaches, and the tacos and cerveza in Mexico.
Pete was a member of Grace Lutheran Church for over 30 years and loved going to the Disciples Bible Class, a class for special needs adults. He erected a bench in front of the church at a Beaver Avenue bus stop for his Eagle Scout project.
Pete is survived by his parents Don and Patti Gordon of Patton Township; two sisters Cathy Kaltenbaugh (and Scott) of Warriors Mark, PA, and Michelle Barton (and Pete) of Richlands, NC; nieces Christina Burnett (and Bobby and their daughter Ella) of Pittsburgh, PA and Karah Kaltenbaugh of Warriors Mark, PA; nephews Matthew Kaliara of Boulder, CO, Zachary Sunday and Michael Sunday both of the US Army, and Keagan Barton of the US Marine Corps.
Special affection from Pete to the caring and loving staff at The Arc Forever Home and to his two housemates; his many long-time friends; the Disciples Bible Class at Grace Lutheran Church; Medi Home Health and Hospice; Sunny Days Adult Daily Living Center; the staff at Omega Bank; and to so many community medical professionals who cared for him.
Friends and family will be received beginning at 10:30 AM and also at a luncheon in Harkins Hall immediately following the ceremony. Pete's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at Grace Lutheran Church, 205 South Garner Street, State College, PA, with the Reverend P. Stevens Lynn officiating.
Interment in Pine Hall Cemetery, Ferguson Township, will be at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Pete's name may be made to The Arc of Centre County, 1840 N. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16803.
Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.