GORDON CONE, 2LT, USMC
Gordon Cone '29
Lucky Bag
From the 1929 Lucky Bag:
GORDON CONE
Columbus, Ohio
"Red"
WHEN the Class of '29 answered to its initial roll-call this auburn-haired fellow was among those present; although he did not manifest it by any garrulousness or extraordinary feats of prowess. Then he looked around, decided that his chosen Alma Mater was good to look upon, and settled down to a complacent and passive participation in both routine and extra-curriculum activities.
Because of his previous experiences in one of the capitals of the Middle West and elsewhere, the week-end pastimes of the majority of his classmates have held but little for him; wine, women, and song can go hang while he restfully puffs at that last skag and listens to the Victrola wail forth some semi-classical production. Music—that's his hobby—and because of an almost professional cognizance of the instruments of Tubal-Cain, the "Powers-That-Be" conceived of making him Drum and Bugle Corps Commander First Class year. That organization as a result learned many new marches and posture improvements.
But the fallacies of a Second Class June week wrought their perturbations on his placidity. Judging from the steady inflow of dainty boxes and finely addressed missives from the home podunk, it seems that upon graduation the Marine Corps will gain another member, for the old standardized reason. Under inland skies novitiate leather-necks will have discipline imparted to them by "Red." The spirit of unruffled efficiency is his.
Black N*. Class Fencing 3. Class Gym, 1929 4, 2. Gymkhana 4, 3. Sub-Squad 4, 3, 2. Two Stripes. Drum and Bugle Corps Commander.
GORDON CONE
Columbus, Ohio
"Red"
WHEN the Class of '29 answered to its initial roll-call this auburn-haired fellow was among those present; although he did not manifest it by any garrulousness or extraordinary feats of prowess. Then he looked around, decided that his chosen Alma Mater was good to look upon, and settled down to a complacent and passive participation in both routine and extra-curriculum activities.
Because of his previous experiences in one of the capitals of the Middle West and elsewhere, the week-end pastimes of the majority of his classmates have held but little for him; wine, women, and song can go hang while he restfully puffs at that last skag and listens to the Victrola wail forth some semi-classical production. Music—that's his hobby—and because of an almost professional cognizance of the instruments of Tubal-Cain, the "Powers-That-Be" conceived of making him Drum and Bugle Corps Commander First Class year. That organization as a result learned many new marches and posture improvements.
But the fallacies of a Second Class June week wrought their perturbations on his placidity. Judging from the steady inflow of dainty boxes and finely addressed missives from the home podunk, it seems that upon graduation the Marine Corps will gain another member, for the old standardized reason. Under inland skies novitiate leather-necks will have discipline imparted to them by "Red." The spirit of unruffled efficiency is his.
Black N*. Class Fencing 3. Class Gym, 1929 4, 2. Gymkhana 4, 3. Sub-Squad 4, 3, 2. Two Stripes. Drum and Bugle Corps Commander.
Loss
Gordon died on October 10, 1930 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The article reports an "illness of six hours;" two posts by a person identifying himself as Gordon's grandson said the hemorrhage was caused by him "leaning back in his chair in his office, the chair slipped, whacked his head on a radiator, and died soon after in hospital." (Alternatively, the Columbus Dispatch on October 11, 1930 reported he died "of paralysis, which developed following the extraction of several teeth.")
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Gordon attended North High School in Columbus and was on the football team with his twin brother Carroll. Gordon spent almost one year in the Navy before attending the Naval Academy.
On June 11, 1929, Gordon married high school classmate Constance Purdy at the Indianola Presbyterian church in Columbus. She was the cousin of Ensign C. Robert Watts (‘28.) As the bride entered, the song “Anchors Away” was played. Their daughter Constance Ann married Robert Paul Wetzel in July, 1957, in Alabama.
In 1910, his father Charles was commissary sergeant at Fort Thomas Military Post in northeast Campbell County, Kentucky. He died in 1927. Gordon’s mother was Mary (his father’s second wife,) sister was Ruth (Mrs. Edward Shields) and brothers were Fred, George, Allen and his twin Carroll. In 1900, his father’s first wife was Alvena, and the family lived at Camp San Carlos in Gila County, Arizona. It was closed in July, and currently only parts are seen when the San Carlos Lake is low.
Gordon's wife, Constance, never remarried; she passed away in 2000. She and Gordon had a daughter, and Constance adopted a son (likely after Gordon's death).
He is buried in Maine.
Memorial Hall Error
Gordon's death does not meet the criteria for inclusion in Memorial Hall.
Gordon is one of 29 members of the Class of 1929 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
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