Gordon Wilson Smith

Gordon W. Smith, 90, of Berwyn, PA & Palm Harbor, FL passed on to the Big Police Station in the sky on January 29, 2023.  He served the community as a police officer for most of his life after serving in the US Army as a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne and as an MP.  Starting his lifelong career in law enforcement at West Chester Borough in 1957, he left the borough in 1966 for West Goshen Township Police Department where he worked his way up the ranks, retiring as Lieutenant.  He is a graduate of the Philadelphia Police Academy and Temple University.  Yet his earliest education came from a one-room schoolhouse in Milford Mills, Downingtown.  He was born in his parents’ home outside of Downingtown, as child number six, of what would become a brood of ten.  He was the youngest boy of the late Chester G. Smith and Jesse Mae (Carnes).

Gordon was a Master Mason with WC Lodge #322 and a long-time member of the WC Elks.  He was a lifetime member of the Fame Fire Company, Goshen Fire Company and the WC Fish & Game Assoc.  Gordon was also a member of the Chester County Police Chiefs Assoc.  However, as organizations go, those fade in comparison to the commitment he had for the Fraternal Order of Police, at the county, state and national level.  He served as National FOP election committee chairman for over fifty years assisting with writing their by-laws and election procedures that are still in place today.  Upon resigning that position the National FOP Lodge bestowed upon him the title of Chairman Emeritus.  At the county level he was a Past President of Chester County FOP Lodge #11 and after that post served as their financial secretary into his mid-eighties often continuing his duties as he wintered in Florida.  Also during his “three trips around the world and having met everyone in it twice” it was well known his favorite color was orange, which he wore every day.  Gordon also loved spending time and hunting from his cabin in the woods near Penn State.  

He was preceded in death by his first born son, Kevin Gordon Smith, and by seven of his nine siblings, Minnie (Van Lew), Mabel (Haines), John, Chester “Gump”, Roy “Boots”, Florence (McKeever) and Linda (Behrndt).

Gordon is survived by his wife of forty years Esther Gay (Staudenmayer) of Berwyn, his sisters Jean (Manning) and Esther “Skeet” (Wuertz) both of Downingtown.  He is further survived by four of his sons, Keith (Kathy Freney) of West Chester, Kenneth (Cathy Broadbelt) of Berwyn, Kirk (Julie Pinnix) of Thorndale and Kyle of West Chester, as well as seven grandchildren, Kristopher, Scott, Tanner, Tristin, Matthew, Andrew and Rachel plus nine great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitations at the DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church St. West Chester 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com on Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 4:30 pm - 7:45 pm with a Masonic Service starting at 8pm, and on Friday, February 10, 2023 from 9:00 am - 9:45 am with an F.O.P. Service at 10:00 am followed by his Funeral Service at 10:15 am.

Interment will be in Oaklands Cemetery West Chester PA.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Chester County FOP Lodge #11, and/or the Fame Fire Company.