Gordon Frederick Westhaver, 86, of Sevierville, Tenn., formerly of Chadbourn, N.C., went home to be with the Lord on May 7, with his daughter and son-in-law by his side, following a long illness.
Gordon was born on April 15, 1930, in Quincy, Mass., the son of Archibald and Clarice (Zinck) Westhaver. He moved with his family to Bristol in 1943 and attended Bristol area schools and Lincoln Academy. He enlisted in the Navy in 1948 and served during the Korean War aboard the USS Cabot CVL-28 and the USS Casa Grande LSD-13. After his discharge from the Navy, he went to work at his father’s machine shop, Bristol Machine and Gear, in Bristol Mills. Later, he was a lobsterman and dragged ground fish for quite a few years. He loved the sea and carried that love throughout his life. He also worked at Vocaline in South Bristol, which provided him the opportunity to travel to the Virgin Islands several times, and worked at Goudy and Stevens Shipyard in East Boothbay. He later had his own business repairing diesel boat engines. In the mid-1970s Gordon moved to Florida and then to Carolina Beach, N.C., working in a shipyard in Wilmington, N.C., until he retired in 1992.
He married his wife, Juanita, in 1985, and after he retired they moved to Chadbourn, N.C., where they raised cows, pigs and chickens on their small farm. He enjoyed flea markets and antique auctions. He also loved carving birds and building boat models. He enjoyed giving his works of love to family and friends for their enjoyment.
Gordon was predeceased by his wife, Juanita; parents, Archibald and Clarice Westhaver; sister, Barbara Beatson; brother, Eldon Westhaver; sons, Paul Frederick Westhaver and Albert Benjamin Westhaver; and daughter, Debra (Debbie) Marie Fortier.
He is survived by daughter, Teresa (Teri) Reiling and husband Jim of Sevierville, Tenn.; son, Brian Westhaver and wife Kelcey of Nobleboro; beloved niece, Susan Westhaver and husband Rob Tibbetts of Bristol; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A private family service will be held in the summer.