Gordon E. Derrick

Gordon E. Derrick         “beloved husband, father, & grandfather”

SHINGLEHOUSE, PA----Gordon E. Derrick, 92, of Shinglehouse, passed away in his home on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 after a short illness.
     Born July 26, 1920 in Dunmore, he was a son of Emmitt and Edna Miller Derrick.  He was formerly married to Marjorie D. Singer Derrick.  On September 18, 1983 in Eldred, he married Kathleen Murphy, who survives.
     As a teenager he joined the Civil Conservation Corps for which he served in Hagerstown, MD.  Mr. Derrick served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
     He had formerly lived in Reeders for many years where he built his first house. While living in Reeders, Mr. Derrick, along with his brother Emmitt, had a plumbing and heating business.  He later worked as a pipefitter, working at several nuclear power plants.  He moved to Eldred in 1978.  In 1988 he moved to Shinglehouse, where he built his second house at the age of 68.
     Mr. Derrick was a member of the Myrtle Gospel Tabernacle since 1983.
     Surviving besides his wife are a son, Thomas (Rose) Derrick of Shinglehouse; a daughter, Carol Woods of Brookfield, VT; a stepson, James (Jihee) Murphy of Rhode Island; two stepdaughters, Sharon (Jeffery) Gilbert of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Bonnie (Joseph) Block of Churchville; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; two sisters, Martha Butz and Jane Kintner, both of Stroudsburg; a brother, Raymond Van Buskirk of Stroudsburg; and several nieces and nephews.
     In addition to his parents, Mr. Derrick was predeceased by a brother, Emmitt Derrick; and two sisters, Isabelle Van Buskirk and Mary Otto Lesoin.
     Private burial services were held in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse.
     A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at the Myrtle Gospel Tabernacle, with Pastor Curt MacDonald, officiating.