Laurel Glenn Jordan, age 78, passed away at his home on Thursday, June 16, 2011, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born the eldest of six to D. Vernon and Elizabeth (Jarrett) Jordan in West Virginia, on January 26, 1933, the family moved when he was six years old to Ohio, settling in Morrow County. Here he lived until moving to Mansfield in 2002.
Graduating in 1951 from Johnsville High School, baseball was his favorite sport. He was the starting pitcher for his four years of high school. During his sons' teen years, he enjoyed coaching their Little League and Pony League baseball teams.
Glenn and his wife Helen were avid travelers and campers. Beginning when their children were young, they traversed the countryside. They have visited nearly every state in the United States, as well as several Canadian provinces, making many good friends along the way. Glenn and Helen spent 14 winters in the lower Texas Rio Grande Valley where they discovered square dancing. They quickly became fans and incorporated square dances in their travels.
Glenn lived a very humble life, always thinking of his family first. And though he possessed many talents, he remained a modest person. He was always generous with his time from helping to tune a vehicle to doing the electrical wiring for entire houses. A patriotic man, he was seldom without an American flag on display or a flag pin on his lapel and could be seen with a tear in his eye during the singing of “God Bless America.”
He served as a corporal in the Army during the Korean Conflict from 1953 to 1955 and was stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His analytical problem-solving nature was well suited to his employment at the General Motors plant in Ontario, where he was a faithful employee for 35 years until retirement. He also enjoyed grain farming as a side occupation that would keep him busy from dawn to dusk in the spring and fall every year. He was a member of The Pines Christian Church, Mt. Gilead, OH.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Helen M. (Allen) Jordan, two sons and two daughters: Dale (Lorraine) Jordan of Naperville, IL; Roy (Jacqueline) Jordan of Epping, ND; Laura (Vincent) Brown of Mt. Gilead, OH; and Beth (P. Steven) Young of Caledonia, OH. In addition, he is survived by five siblings: Betty Carol Dill of Mansfield, OH; Jerry (Nancy) Jordan of Fredericktown, OH; Wanda (Larry) Cutlip of Jeromesville, OH; Ruth Jackson of Newark, DE; and Ralph (Patricia) Jordan of Powell, OH.
Glenn was also blessed and proud to have 11 grandchildren, six step grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and three step great grandchildren, as well as a large extended family.
The Jordan family received visitors on Saturday, June 18, at The Pines Christian Church, 6775 U.S. Highway 42, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338, where a service celebrating the life of Laurel Glenn Jordan was held. Evangelist Neil Gilliland officiated. Burial was at Shauck Cemetery in Johnsville with military honors conducted by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail. Honoring Glenn as pallbearers were his six grandsons: Dale T. Jordan, Garrett Jordan, Shawn Young, Paul Young, Gavin Brown and Cameron Brown.
Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the Hospice Organization of your choice in care of Snyder Funeral Home, P.O. Box 3085, Mansfield, Ohio 44904.
Private online condolences to the Jordan family may be made by visiting: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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