Luther Gore

Luther Yates Gore Luther Yates Gore died peacefully in his home in Charlottesville, on Saturday, May 25, 2013. He was surrounded by his loving family, beloved dogs, and his art, carvings, books and poetry. He was born on February 12, 1932, to Thomas Jackson and Carolena Yates Gore in Alexandria, Virginia. Luther grew up among the Old Town homes his great-grandfather had built and the stories of his family's Virginia history. He got a BA at Randolph Macon College and was one of the very few men in the United States who studied abroad at the time, at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He served as a radio and electronics specialist on the Navy's U.S.S. Norfolk during the Korean War. He received his MA and PhD in English at the University of Virginia and subsequently joined the faculty there. During this time, Luther and his wife started their family. Luther was pre-deceased by his first wife, Rea, and is survived by his second wife of 40 years, Joan Elias Gore. Luther's friends and family called him a Renaissance Man- a man of many interests, talents, and activities. He loved writing and reading poetry and short stories; he painted - noted for his aviation art, he also loved to paint Virginia scenes and animals; he created beautiful wood carvings, especially of birds, and a magnificent Creche; he was a musician, playing everything from ragtime on the piano with his brother, Jack, to teaching himself the classical guitar and learning to play bagpipes, much to the surprise of neighbors who heard him as he practiced. He built furniture and joyously taught his son the basics of carpentry; he built and flew model airplanes; shot clay pigeons; rode motorcycles; enjoyed the outside and camping; read novels voraciously; explored theological concepts his entire life; went fly fishing with family; and traveled the world, with the Navy, with Joan, and on his own, hiking the entire Thames Path of England. Luther was proud of both his Scottish and his Native American (Pamunkey) background. Luther loved the University of Virginia and teaching undergraduate students. He joined the Humanities Division of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the early 1960s, where he helped to pioneer the study of technology and culture and their interrelationships. He taught a wide variety of courses, including UVa's first photography class and, with his close friend, George Matthews, the first course in aviation history and the impact of aviation on American culture. He wrote a senior thesis manual which continues to be used and adapted as technology changes. Many of his students have remained in contact with him throughout his life. He was proud that many family members attended or attend the University. Luther served as Chair of the Humanities Division during his career, and was awarded the Mac Wade Award for outstanding service to the UVa School of Engineering and Applied Science. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1992. Additionally, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at Randolph Macon College and the Raven Society at UVa. Luther researched and published in the fields he taught, most especially in military and aviation history and culture. A singular accomplishment was to organize, in 1983, the first meeting of America's leading aviation artists, an event which led the artists to form the American Society of Aviation Artists, an organization for which Luther served as Executive Secretary until recent years. He organized national meetings in conjunction with many U.S. aviation history museums and a joint meeting, in London, with the British Guild of Aviation Artists. The June, 2013 issue of Aero Brush Magazine, the U.S. aviation art journal, is featuring Luther's painting, Hommage a Farre (the world's first aviation artist) on its cover as a tribute to Luther's contribution to the field. Luther contributed to everything he did, never standing aside. From UVa organizations to the Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club in the past and, in recent years, to the Senior Center, the Watercolor Guild, Art UpStairs, the Charlottesville/Albemarle Aviation Lunch Club, which helped to create, and many other local organizations, he held office, made coffee, mentored new members, hung pictures, wrote newsletters, and helped wherever he could. He loved his friends in each one of these areas and they have all given him love and support in the time of his illness and before. Of all Luther's passions and loves, the constant was his love of his family. He was so proud of each of his children and grandchildren, showing pictures of them and telling stories about them to his friends as they visited him these last few months. In addition to his wife, Joan Elias Gore, he is also survived by his children, Alice Gore and her husband, Wick Hunt, and their children, Ben and Hannah, Mary Kardos, her husband, Charlie, and their children, Errin Rea Searcy and her husband, Bryan, and David Kardos and his wife, Lisa; and great-grandchildren, Charlie and Abby Searcy, Caroline Gore, whose adventure and courage through her life inspired him, Fred Gore and his wife, Ninon, and their boys, Austin and Fletcher, and Hattie Gore and her husband, Robert Shapiro. He is also survived by his sister, Miriam Parsons and her husband, Ron; his nieces, Mary Kate Long and her husband, Michael, and family, and Angie Clement and her husband, Will, and family; his sister-in-law, Marie Elise Gore; his nephews, Tom Gore and his wife, Pam, and family, and Richard Gore and family. He is survived by Joan's extended family, Al Elias and his wife, Barbara, and son, Gabe, who became his family as well. He was predeceased by his beloved brother, Jack, about whom he would often reminisce. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. June 9, 2013, at University Baptist Church, 1223 West Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia. A reception will immediately follow at The Colonnade Club on the Lawn at UVa. Hill and Wood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Luther's honor to Service Dogs of Virginia http://www.servicedogsva.org/, Senior Center of Charlottesville http://www.seniorcenterinc.org/, Robert Ford Haitian Children's Orphanage http://www.fordhaitianorphanage.org/, or the University of Virginia Engineering Foundation http://seas.virginia.edu/admin/uvef.php.



This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.