Gorton Wood

GORTON WOOD, age 84, of 2509 Slaterville Road, Slaterville Springs, NY died Friday, March 24, 2006 at his residence after lengthy illness. Born Olin Gorton Wood at Mansfield, PA on January 21, 1922 he was the only child of the late John Olin and Ursel Landis Wood. He was graduated from Mansfield High School and moved to California where he earned an aviation mechanics certification. Returning home to Mansfield, PA he was drafted into the Army and served at Dale Mabry Field as a airplane mechanic. Gorton was married to the former Meridith Dayen on July 7, 1947 who passed away October 2, 1992. After the war he

attended the University of Wyoming graduating with a MS in chemistry. He was member of both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. He pursued further university studies and received his Masters of Science from Carnegie Tech. Gorton worked in Pittsburgh for the US Bureau of Mines and later at Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory in Cumberland, MD prior to relocating to Tompkins Co. and being employed at Cornell from 1964-1991. After retirement he continued to do consulting work in the instrumentation field. He was an avid collector of the Saab Automobile and was a member of the Ham Radio Club of Ithaca, the Jeepster Club and enjoyed playing adult hockey and soccer into his 80's. An avid sportsman and mechanic, he loved the comradery of friends with common interests. He was an energetic supporter of and a believer in the civil liberties provided for in the United States Constitution.

Survivors include his son, Edward (Hannah) Ashley Yarmouth, ME; his daughters, Karen (Ray) Bastian of Cape Coral, FL, Nancy (Henry) Connor of Owensboro, KY, Marge Goodwin of Harrisburg, PA and Laura J. (friend-Chuck) Wood of Wrightsville, PA; grandchildren, Lisa Cotto, Frank (Lori) Cotto, Zane (Angela) Cotto, Matthew, Cotto, JonChristopher (Monica Horton) Cotto, Kay Ashley, Beth (fiancé-Jed) Ashley, Rebecca (Jason) Connor Weibel, Megan (Dan) Pierce and Daniel Goodwin; friend and Companion, Mary Lois Tountasakis; and many friends, Charles Rapport, Richard Shaw, Bob Campbell, Ray Bastian, Dave Orr and Chuck Young to name only a few. Gorton was predeceased by a grandson, Joshua Cotto and a lifelong friend, Joe Avery.

Memorial services will be held Sunday, March 26, 2006 at 2 PM in Rick's Room at "The Rink", NYS Rt. 34, Lansing, NY. There are no prior calling hours. Interment will be held privately in Curtis Cemetery, Danby, NY. Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, are graciously directed to "The Rink", 1767 East Shore Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850. Perkins Funeral Home, 55 West Main St., Dryden, NY assisted the family.