Douglas Gordon Roehrs

Douglas Gordon Roehrs of West Brandywine Douglas Gordon Roehrs passed away peacefully on May 8, 2013 in West Brandywine. Born in Morristown, N.J. on March 25, 1919, to Walter E. and Gertrude Waters Roehrs, Gordy, as he was known to most of his family and friends, lived most of his life in the areas surrounding West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the class of 1937 from West Chester High School in West Chester, and a graduate of Colgate University in the class of 1942. He also attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington in Seattle. Following college, Gordy worked for General Electric at Hanford Atomic Works in their public relations department. A veteran of World War II, Gordy served with the Army Air Force as a weatherman in China, Burma and India from 1942 until 1946. Gordy was later employed by Philadelphia Blue Cross in their public relations department, serving as editor of the company magazine, Cross Currents, from 1949 until 1959. He served as publications editor for the U.S. Forest Service from 1959 until 1966 when he became the executive director of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. His love of nature and commitment to environmental conservation came out of his time spent with the forestry organizations. He was always a lover of words and was employed by the Daily Local News as a general assignment reporter from 1970 until his retirement. For many years Gordy served as a volunteer, with his wife Jacquelyn L. Roehrs, at Longwood Gardens, and both were members of the Oxford Lion's Club. After Jackie's death in 2006, Gordy continued his commitment to those organizations. He was a member of the West Chester Unitarian Fellowship and London Grove Friends Meeting. Gordy was pre-deceased by a son, Gregory A. Roehrs and a daughter, Elizabeth V. Roehrs, and is survived by three step-children; Johanna M. Myers, Peter T. Miles and Christopher T. Miles. He is also survived by five nephews and one niece.