Joseph Frank Gordy, Jr.

Joseph Franklin Gordy, Jr., 93

GEORGETOWN – Joseph Franklin Gordy, Jr., passed away peacefully at home Friday, January 26, 2024, surrounded by his family. Frank was born in Wilmington, the son of Joseph Franklin Gordy Sr., and Mary Ellen (Beauchamp) Gordy.

Frank graduated from Georgetown High School in 1948 and attended the University of Delaware for a short time. He then went to work for Henry Graves. Two years later he would marry his loving wife, Katherine (Roach) Gordy on September 16, 1950. They were married for nearly 71 years. In May 1951 they moved to Denver, CO, where Frank served four years in the US Air Force. Upon his discharge from the US Air Force, they would return to Georgetown in 1955 where they bought a home on E. Laurel St. Ext. and raised their three children. In 1978, they had a home constructed by students at Sussex Tech that was moved to its current location in the Stockley area, where they have remained since.

Frank worked for several years with the US Department of Agriculture as a survey party leader in the soil conservation service. In 1964, he began his lifelong career in the insurance industry with Farm Bureau Insurance Services; and in 1980, began Gordy Insurance Agency. After many years serving the community’s insurance needs, Frank retired and sold the business to Avery Hall Insurance in 2016. Frank served as an officer in many organizations and for several years as a lobbyist for the insurance industry in the Delaware General Assembly.

Frank was an avid golfer and charter member of Sussex Pines Country Club where he served in a leadership role until 2019. He and Katherine traveled extensively to New Zealand, Baltic Sea, Alaska, England, Germany, Russia, Finland, Switzerland, a cruise of the Snake River, Mississippi River Tour, and Vancouver National Park by bus. Because God and Church also played an important role in his life, he was an active member of Wesley UM Church.

In addition to his parents, Frank is preceded in death by his loving wife, Katherine Roach Gordy; a sister, Carolyn Swett; Katherine’s parents, William, and Clara (Coverdale) Roach; sister-in-law, Betty Ellingsworth, and her husband William; and a brother-in-law, Arnold Roach.

Frank is survived by three children, Mary Jane Short and husband Charles K., Joseph Franklin Gordy, III and wife Nancy Beaumont, William Arnold Gordy, and wife Karen; four grandchildren, Charles J. Short and wife Katie, Lana Short, Ryan Gordy and wife Rebecca, and Megan Gordy; three great grandchildren, Collin, Callie, and Charlotte; and brother-in-law, Thomas Swett. As well as exchange student, Steve Brocklebank from New Zealand with whom they shared their home from 1972-1973.

A funeral service will be held at 12:30pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at Wesley UM Church, 102 E. Laurel Street, Georgetown, Del., where a time of visitation for family and friends will begin at 11:30am. Interment will follow at 2:00pm at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro.

The family would like to thank Frank’s caregivers for the excellent care they gave their father and grandfather, Penny Sharp, who has been with us for four years, and Cindy Green.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wesley UM Church, 102 E. Laurel Street, Georgetown, DE 19947; or Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.

Online condolences are welcome for the family at www.shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com