Pastor Walter Britton Gordon, Sr., 69, of the Mountain Page community of Saluda, went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, August 11, 2009, at his home. A native and lifelong resident of Henderson County, he was a son of the late Ed Franklin Gordon, Sr. and the late Dora Davis Gordon. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Oscar M. Gordon, and a sister, Ruth Ledbetter. He was employed at GE for twelve years, and retired from Saluda School in 2002, where he worked as a custodian, coached the boy’s basketball team, and was a bus driver. He surrendered to the call to preach in 1971, and pastored Piney Grove Baptist, Grace Missionary Baptist, Mtn. Page Baptist, and Fork Creek Baptist Churches, all in the Saluda area, and New Hope Baptist Church in Candler. Most recently, God placed him back at Fork Creek Baptist Church where he served as pastor until his death. He served on the Saluda Volunteer Fire and Rescue Board of Directors as vice president for thirteen years. He was a banjo player and singer with the bluegrass gospel group, Green River Boys, for the past nine years.

Survivors include his loving wife of forty-five years, Sharon Hutchinson Gordon; a son, Britt Gordon and his wife Denise of Edneyville; two daughters, Sonya Corn and her husband Victor of Hendersonville, Paula Rush and her husband Nathan of Fletcher; three brothers, Frank Gordon of Hendersonville, Paul Gordon and Eddie Gordon, II, both of Saluda; two sisters, Mildred Ward of Zirconia, Martha Revis of Hendersonville; seven grandchildren, Bradley and Vance Gordon, Aaron, Zachary and Abigail Corn, Kelsay and J. D. Rush; twenty-six nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be held at 11:00 am Friday at Fair Haven Baptist Church in Hendersonville. Pastors Jimmy Justice and Roger Todd, and Preacher Nathan Rush will officiate. Burial will follow in the Grace Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 pm Thursday at Fair Haven Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life (Hospice), 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.