Gordon Holborn Scott, 89

ALAMOSA — Gordon Holborn Scott, 89, died Saturday, July 7, 2012 at his home in Alamosa.

He was born July 14, 1922 in San Diego, Calif. to Lucile Holborn and Cloyd Calvern Scott, who both preceded him in death,

He married Patricia Donahoe May 17, 1942, and entered the Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot in WWII. He flew P51 fighter escort missions over the Japanese homeland from Iwo Jima. He was shot down July 4, 1944 and imprisoned in Tokyo for the remainder of the war.

His Air Force career of nearly 30 years spanned three major wars and several national crises, where he served his country with honor and distinction. He was awarded several service medals in his career, including the Purple Heart, eight Air Medals, the Legion of Merit and Distinguished Service Cross.

An avid Boy Scout as a youngster, Gordon achieved the Eagle Scout rank at age 15. He was an excellent athlete, playing football and basketball at Bell High School, where he graduated in 1940. He played with ‘Doc’ Blanchard on the Army Air Corps football team at Randolph Field in San Antonio,Texas, where he was based after returning from the war. As a young man, he was a Red Cross First Aid and Swimming instructor and Boy Scout leader with extensive experience camping with scouts and family.

In the early 1960’s, while stationed at Ramstein AFB in Germany, Gordon studied painting and created many lovely oil paintings that are the proud possessions of his family. He exhibited his artwork at a fair at Liberty Heights in Colorado Springs in 2010.

Gordon retired from the Air Force in 1972 from Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs and he and Pat have made their home in Colorado and California since that time.

In 1979, Gordon and Pat moved to Blanca Colo., where they restored the old White Mountain Ranch. Gordon was a flight instructor with AOPA and in Alamosa for over 30 years and a designated FAA Flight Examiner in the San Luis Valley for over 20. He also flew for Southway Construction for many years.

As a young man, Gordon and best friend Bill Wunderly dreamed of taking a road trip around the perimeter of the United States after graduation from high school. The dream was delayed when the engine of his car “blew up.” Love and war intervened, and marriage to his high school sweetheart, Pat Donahoe, entry into the Army Air Corps in World War II and raising a family of 5 children seemed to end the fantasy.

However, in April of 2002, shortly after Bill’s death and 3 months shy of his 80th birthday, Gordon reprised the dream and dedicated his journey to his friend and best man. This time he flew his Cessna 172 solo the same route he had once dreamed of driving. He accomplished this feat in 28 days and chronicled his journey in a memoir written with his daughter Pam Soapes, titled My Incredible Journey, published in the fall of 2011.

He was a great husband and father and loved and served his family and his country with honor and pride. He lived a life to make us all proud. He will be missed.

Survivors include by his wife of more than 70 years, Patricia Donahoe Scott of Alamosa; five children; Colleen (Patrick) Moore of Colorado Springs, Patrick (Therese) Scott of Aiken, S.C., Michael Scott and Pamela (Donnie) Soapes of Alamosa and Brian Scott and Donna Dahrouge of Kensington, Calif.; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and brother, Gary (Linda) Scott of Anaheim Hills, Calif.

The family will observe a private Celebration of Life on July 14. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Hospice Del Valle, 514 Main Street, Alamosa CO 81101.



Arrangements are in the care of Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa.