Waits W. Gordon Jr.

Waits W. Gordon Jr., 84, of Morganton, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2026, after a short period of declining health.

Born in Norfolk, Va., on March 8, 1942, he was the son of the late Waits Walton Gordon Sr. and Claudia Helms Durham Gordon.

Waits was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church where he had served with the backpack ministry, finance committee, prison ministries, and the staff parish. He retired from Oster Corporation as a national sales manager and worked as store manager for Food Lion for over 20 years. Waits also was a servant to the community. He served on the boards of Burke United Christian Ministries, Burke County History Museum, and the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center. He was also a member of the Morganton Planning and Zoning Committee and many other charitable organizations. Waits was the Morganton Rotary Man of the Year in 2008.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Laura Ann Garrison Gordon; children, Waits Walton Gordon III, (Denitsa), Kimberly G. Maugans, Laura “Beth” Powell (Tim), and Todd Young (Kimberly); grandchildren, Skylar Gordon, Tate Gordon, Nathan Maugans, Garrett Maugans, Jennifer Cárdenas, Lauren Powell, Bryan Powell, Jeffrey Young, and Michael Young; great-grandchildren, Brayden, Arthur, and Lydia; a sister, Rebecca Anderson (Robert); a brother-in-law, Larry Van Horn; and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, Waits was preceded in death by his sister, Margie VanHorn.

A celebration of Waits’ life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2026, at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Dan Hester, Austin McNeil, and Dana McKim officiating. The family will greet friends in the fellowship hall after the service.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.sossomanfh.com.