Walter Eugene “Gene” Gordon

Walter Eugene “Gene” Gordon, 92, formerly of Bartow, Florida, died on February 27, 2025, after a long illness. A native of Georgia, he moved to Bartow in 1953 and established decades-long business relationships and friendships as the owner of Gene’s Upholstery and many rental properties. In his leisure time, he was a fast-pitch softball player and an avid bowler. He shared with his family a love for baseball, Florida Gators football, water skiing, and home-cooked banana pudding. He instilled a passion for sports in countless other children in the community as a founding member of Dixie Youth Baseball in Bartow. The league honored him for decades of team sponsorship and coaching. He spent much pleasure time entertaining friends and family at his beach house on Little Gasparilla Island, sharing the bounty of his cast net and crab traps. He later maintained a second home in Englewood. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bartow, Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge, and Moose Lodge. He was preceded in death by his son Wes Gordon, parents Charlie and Chloe Gordon, and sisters Waver Bragg and Jeanette Walker. He is survived by his son Walter Gordon (Nancy) of Safety Harbor, daughters Twyla Gordon Ely (Ken) of Hiawassee, Georgia, and Tana Gordon Plyler (Dan) of Panama City Beach, nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 E. Main Street, Bartow. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wes Gordon Memorial Scholarship fund in honor of Gene Gordon. The scholarship supports veterans aiming to further their education at Polk State College. Donations can be made by following this link: bit.ly/3DoxLaX or mailed to the Polk State College Foundation at 999 Avenue H NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.whiddenmcleanfuneralhome.com.