Gordon Macdonnell

Gordon A. MacDonnell, resident of Ponca City, passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2008 at Westminster Village Nursing Center in Ponca City. He was 90. Gordon was born the son of James and Ann MacDonnell on April 19, 1918 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He spent much of his childhood in Nova Scotia after which he attended and graduated from the Boston Trade Institute, a private high school for boys. Gordon was enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps from 1937 to 1941 and then from 1941 to 1945 he was enlisted in the United States Air Force. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was a power turret gun instructor at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. While stationed at Tinker AFB, Gordon met Jean L. McKinney of Oklahoma City. They were married in Oklahoma City in June of 1945, and to this union, two children were born. After an honorable discharge from military service, he remained in Oklahoma City where he owned a cabinet and furniture repair business. Gordon later attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where, in 1952 he earned a Bachelors of Science in Trade Education followed by a Masters of Science degree in 1953. From 1955 to 1981, he taught the trade woodworking class at the Ponca City High School. Gordon enjoyed woodworking and specialized in constructing grandfather clocks. He is survived by his two children, Doug MacDonnell of Stillwater, Oklahoma and Neil MacDonnell of Cape Coral, Florida; four grandchildren, Capt. Jason MacDonnell, M.D., Mike MacDonnell, Gordon MacDonnell and Alex MacDonnell; three great grandchildren, Alex MacDonnell, Cory MacDonnell and Justin MacDonnell all of Bedford, Virginia. He is preceded in death by his parents and wife. A gathering of family and friends will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 10, 2008 at Grace Memorial Chapel.