Robert Henry "Gator" Gore

Robert Henry “Gator” Gore was born December 17, 1921 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida to Robert B. Gore and Ruth Gore. His sister, Mary Louise, was born two years later. He resided in New Smyrna Beach until joining the Army in 1940 at the age of 19.

He became a paratrooper with the 13th Airborne and was stationed in Panama when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Robert’s life was spared many times throughout the course of the war. He was awarded the Bronze Star, American Theater Ribbon, and American Defense Service Ribbon. He was then honorably discharged in 1945.

He married Florence Holley in 1954 in Miami, Florida. They went on to have two children, Tracy Lane and Vincent Scott. Robert and Florence were married 60 years. The family lived in New Smyrna Beach where Robert worked for the Florida East Coast Railroad as a conductor until 1966. The family then moved to Tracy, California where he was employed with the Southern Pacific Railroad. Robert retired from the railroad in 1986, he and Florence then moved to Oregon. While in Oregon, he became an active member of the Grants Pass Seventh-Day Adventist Church in 1996. He served as a deacon, greeter, and Dorcas volunteer.

His hobbies included fishing, gold panning, and riding motorcycles (preferably Harley’s.) Robert was a very outgoing and cheerful person; he also enjoyed telling stories about his experiences. Robert loved his family, his church, and loved spending time with his three grandchildren, Scott, Shelley, and Joshua. He had also become a grandfather figure to Alyssa and Andrea James. His sister Mary and his two nieces Janet Rogers and Ginny Reeves reside in Texas.

Robert was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be dearly missed.