Gordon E. Riner's Obituary
Gordon E. Riner departed from this earth April 8, 2012. He was born August 17, 1924, in Richmond, Indiana to Clifford E. and Mary Johnson Riner. He was one of four boys. Gordon was many things to many people. He was a loving husband to his wife Marian for 62 years and the proud father of three daughters, Deborah, Cynthia, and Robyn. He loved being a father and spending time with his daughters whether it be taking them to gymnastics, to the airport, reading, going on walks or just listening to their hopes and dreams and instilling the belief that they were capable of anything if they worked hard enough. He served in the Navy in the Pacific in WW ll. On discharge from the Navy he was a catcher for the Wilson Tobacconists of the Coastal Plains League. He was a competitive pistol shooter, winning national competitions. He was also an avid astronomer, who built his own telescopes and patiently taught those interested, including his grateful son in law, Jack, about the beauty of the heavens. In 1963 he became involved in sport parachuting which developed into his ""calling"". He was a member of the United States Parachute Team in 1968. He then became a judge, culminating in judging the international sports parachuting meet in Graz, Austria. His love for his family caused him to remove himself from his National involvement as he didn't want to miss a moment of their childhood. He often remarked how fleeting childhood was and had the perception to realize there are some moments that can never be recaptured. He shared his love of life with his grandchildren, Lance, Matthew, Morgan and husband Jason Fry, Maggie, Frances, John and Gordon. He introduced countless people to the sport of skydiving, simply to share his love of the sport. He described parachuting paraphrasing Lewis Carrol, ""it's like falling down a rabbit hole into the magical kingdom of the sky."" A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 12:30 PM at the Watson Funeral Home, where friends may call beginning at 11:30 AM. Pastor Earl Baker will officiate. Interment follows at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
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