Zona’s Obituary Zona Louise Lansche Gordon, 84, of Advance, NC, died Thursday evening, March 21, in the Kate B Reynolds Hospice Home, Winston-Salem, with her husband Don at her side. Mrs. Gordon was born Sept. 13, 1934, at South Troy, Mo.
, to Charles O. and Gertrude Colbert Lansche. She spent her early years in the Troy community, completing her elementary and secondary education there. Zona graduated from Buchanan High School in 1952.
On April 22, 1956, Zona was united in marriage to Donald E. Gordon of Hawk Point, Mo. , at the Hawk Point Baptist Church. The couple celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in 2018.
Three children were born to the union, Phillip David Gordon of Advance. , Robin Diane Ben-Joseph (Jonah) of Spotsylvania, Va. , and Nancy Gail Chadwick (Chad) of Clemmons, NC.
There are two grandchildren Grace Anne Chadwick, born April 7, 2002, and Charlotte Gail Chadwick, born May 5, 2008. Other survivors are special nieces Billie Jo Derham, Celeste Sanders, Karen Hakes and Vicki Hubbard, and special nephew David Myers. As a young woman, Mrs. Gordon was employed at Troy Fuel and Coal, Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Mears Heel Co. in Troy, and the University of Missouri in Columbia, but her principal occupation outside the home was as a church secretary, which she regarded primarily as a ministry.
From 1975 until her retirement in 1997, Mrs. Gordon served Gracemont Baptist Church in Tulsa, Okla. , First General Baptist Church and Bethel Assembly of God in Cape Girardeau, Mo. , All Saints Episcopal Church in Florence, S.C., and Rosebower Baptist and Trinity Baptist churches in Paducah, Ky.
Since 2007, Mrs. Gordon, with her husband, was a member of Center Grove Baptist Church in Clemmons. Mrs. Gordon was first of all a homemaker throughout her married life, and during her children’s formative years, she generally did not work outside the home. She and her husband were forever gratified that she was present to greet the children when they came home from school, and as adults, the children acknowledged that value as well.
As a young teen-ager at a summer Baptist camp, Mrs. Gordon made her profession of faith in Jesus Christ and remained a dedicated follower of the Lord throughout her life. She was first united with the Troy Baptist Church and was typically prompt to transfer her membership to other Baptist churches as she and her husband moved to different locations. Zona took private piano lessons as a child in Troy and became accomplished on that instrument.
Throughout her life, she made ministerial use of that talent, starting as a youth serving the Troy Baptist Church as the congregation’s pianist. She filled that role in subsequent churches and later played the piano for patients at nursing homes. Mrs. Gordon over many years also gave piano lessons in her home.
Mrs. Gordon served as a Sunday School teacher in several churches over the years. Under her leadership, her adult ladies classes were characterized by active Christian ministries outside the church. Mrs. Gordon also participated in prison ministries, traveling to institutions in Kentucky and Mississippi to share her Christian witness with inmates.
As a volunteer through her church in Paducah, she taught English as a second language to immigrants. After her marriage to Mr. Gordon, the family made their home in Columbia, Mo. , Hawk Point, Kirksville, Mo.
, Cape Girardeau, Mo. , Rockford, Ill. , Tulsa, Okla.
, Florence, S.C., Paducah, Ky. , Bella Vista, Ark. , Clemmons and Advance.
As the family moved from place to place, the couple made many warm personal friends at nearly all localities and have maintained close relationships with some over many years. Zona was the youngest of six children born to Charles and Gertrude Lansche, who passed away in 1970 and 1972, respectively. Her siblings were Otis Diggs Lansche, Opal Crouch, Winifred Osborn, Mildred Lansche, Charles Kenneth Lansche, and Zane Colbert Lansche.
All are deceased. Funeral services were held Sunday, March 24, in Clemmons. Burial will be at the Hawk Point City Cemetery with graveside services at 2 pm Thursday, March 28, conducted by the Rev.
James Huffman.
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