In Memory

Richard Gordon Senter - Class Of 1958

Richard Gordon Senter, MD, age 73, passed away at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital November 26, 2013. He was born in Grand Junction, Tennessee, to Alfred and Nettie Senter on January 4th, 1940.

As the son of a Baptist minister, Gordon lived in several places in Tennessee before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, where he attended Albemarle High School and graduated with honors. He attended Carson Newman College, where he met his wife, Barbara. He then attended Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He received further training in rheumatology at Case Western Reserve and the University of Virginia. He worked at the Nalle Clinic in Charlotte, NC, for twenty years, and in private practice in Salisbury for twenty years following.

Gordon is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Lisa (David) and Emily; son, Stuart (Deedra); and his two brothers and three sisters. His grandchildren are Olivia, Paul, and Joseph Cline, Zachary and Joshua Senter, and Julia Senter.

Gordon had many passions, including music, travel, lengthy kayak tours, and spending time with family. He lived his life to the fullest, and impacted innumerable lives. His love of God was complete, and his humility, kindness, and faith inspired everyone he encountered.

Gordon has volunteered with A Storehouse for Jesus’s clinic, mission trips to Ghana, Africa, Rowan County’s Community Care Clinic and AIDS Task Force, and First United Methodist Church’s Camp Discovery.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church at 3 PM Sunday, December 1st, conducted by Rev. Steve Haines. There will be a 30-minute musical interlude preceding. The family will receive friends following the service in the Church Fellowship Hall.

Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 217 S. Church Street, Salisbury, NC 28144.

Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Senter family. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be made at
www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Submitted by Connie Crenshaw


 



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

11/30/13 04:22 PM #1    

Charles "Connie" Crenshaw (1958)

It is always sad to lose a classmate.  Gordon was one of those clasmates we looked up to.  When comparing report cards, his was the one with the good grades.  I managed to get by.  Even in high school, when Gordon decided to do something, you knew it would be done well.  He said in the 1958 Peer Yearbook, he liked hiking, singing and people.  I remember him as a member of the Aces singing group in school.   Gordon was President of the Library Club, on the Debate Team, President of our Freshman Class and was voted by us as The Most Likely To Succeed in our Senior Class. 

Gordon, we will miss you at our 1958 class reunions.  You always had a friendly smile for everyone.  Barbara, our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.

Gordon was a Supporting Member of the Albemarle High School Alumni Association.

Charles "Connie" Crenshaw

 

 

 

 

 


02/04/14 08:12 PM #2    

Charles "Connie" Crenshaw (1958)

Thanks to Sandra Booth Andrews, AHS Class of 1962 - Reporting from North Carolina


The - Dispatch.Com
Davidson County's News Source

High Rock Lake man ministered to others through kayaking
Dr. Dalane W. Kitzman

Published: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 12:30 a.m.


Recently, the High Rock Lake community lost a great and noble friend, Dr. Gordon Senter of Salisbury. Through his work, his life and even his leisure, he left a lasting imprint on countless souls, including me.

Gordon's concern for and impact on others showed early. As a college student, he was drafted to fill the pulpit at a local Baptist church for an entire year. After retiring from his solo medical practice in Salisbury, he found a new way to preach and minister to others. So it was that he taught me and many others the Wisdom of the Kayak.

For years after we moved to the lake, I saw him only as a silhouette on the water. I would watch in amazement as he quickly, effortlessly and gracefully navigated the lake. I was intrigued by this mysterious figure. I wanted to toss my newly purchased kayak in and join him, but this seemed too forward. So one day when he got close enough for me to do so, I waved him to my dock. His easy, gentle way immediately endeared him to me. Despite his understated, quiet nature, I sensed this man had a lot to teach me. And he did.

In our paddles together, Gordon taught me the best places on the lake to view bald eagles, nesting osprey and white egrets nesting thick as snow. I learned to tell a kingfisher from a swallow and a blue heron from a green heron.

I also learned that life is not a race but a journey that we can make with peace, confidence and joy because of God's enduring love for us. And that others have interesting and instructive stories to share if you draw them out with sincere and gentle queries, as he did so naturally.

Gordon exuded earnest consideration. Despite his 20 years seniority, he always insisted on paddling the extra 1 1/2 miles to pick me up at my dock rather than meeting halfway. Then at the end of each trip, he insisted on escorting me all the way back to my dock. I never succeeded in convincing him to waive this signature courtesy, even in the middle of pelting rainstorms.

Gordon's smile was encouraging, uplifting and contagious. He asked thoughtful questions and never interrupted my long-winded replies. He'd encourage me to go a little further than I had initially planned and could make an 18-mile paddle feel short and fun. He would adjust his speed to match mine and pause when I appeared to tire, which he never did.

Having lost my father at a very young age, Gordon was the role model I had needed. He taught, shaped and enriched me without me realizing it. He even refreshed my approach to my grant applications, the most difficult part of my job, by helping me articulate why my proposed projects were important to mankind, and not just to my continued employment.

Gordon seemed to make each trip about me, as though he were an apostle sent to subtly revitalize and refine me. The only success I had in getting Gordon to talk about himself was when I asked about his family, church, choir or volunteer work at the community care clinics and international medical mission trips.

Our paddling trips on High Rock Lake were almost always spontaneous. He seemed to prefer it that way. He didn't seem to mind the many times he stopped by my dock and I wasn't there or was engrossed in a task and declined to join him. He would continue on solo, and I would shortly be wishing I'd made a wiser choice and gone to "church" with him. Now I wish it even more.

Our last trip together was organized. He had chosen a spectacular stretch of the Dan River in southern Virginia and invited friends, neighbors and family. It was a perfect September day, and the water was ideal. This was my third trip with his teenaged grandson, Paul Cline. A man of Gordon's caliber and demeanor can help shape multiple generations. Paul has Gordon's gentleness, considerateness, affability and joy. I found that he also matches Gordon's voice.

As we entered a stretch of the river with high granite walls that reflected every sound, Gordon launched into a glorious hymn, and Paul joined in. Their identically timbered, a cappella chant was otherworldly. I rested my paddle, closed my eyes and thought, "So, this is what heaven is like!"

Gordon's memorial service packed the large First United Methodist Church in Salisbury to the balcony. As evidenced by the attendance, Gordon focused on people much more than things. I learned that Gordon exhorted all he met to relent to the spell of the kayak and its wonderful ability to bring peace, perspective, introspection, fitness and communion with nature and God. He specialized in patiently shaping people to be their best, in the same way that he patiently crafted the beautiful, sleek, agile, custom wood kayaks that made for an attractive "pulpit" while on the lake.

I learned that Gordon's "kayak converts" included Senior Pastor Stephen Haines. An experienced, usually well-composed clergyman, he struggled at several personal moments during his sermon. He explained that he had lost a best friend and detailed precisely how Gordon had profoundly enriched his own life. He described how Gordon had similarly influenced and enriched the entire congregation, his neighbors and his patients.

The service confirmed my own conclusion that this had been an extraordinary man. I was left in awe at my great fortune to have paddled many trips at his side — and filled with sorrow that there would be no more.

When I returned home after the service, I felt compelled to paddle even though the sun had just set, and a cold winter night was quickly rolling in. My wife read it on my face and silently helped me into my gear. I had no idea where I would go; I just started paddling. Then I saw in the distance the point where I had frequently offered to meet Gordon. I was drawn to that spot.

I paddled faster and faster, with long hard strokes. Tonight, I was finally going to meet Gordon halfway. When I got there, I released the paddle. I wept and then I wailed as I drifted into the night. Slowly, the deep sorrow began to be replaced by joy. I raised my arms to thank God for the precious gifts he had given to me and to so many others through our time with Dr. Gordon Senter.

Dr. Dalane W. Kitzman lives near Southmont and enjoys kayaking, fishing and birdwatching on High Rock Lake. His new companion on these trips is Daisy Mae, a 2-year-old rescued Mountain Feist dog.

Http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/2014302049995#gsc.tab=0

02/06/14 11:08 AM #3    

Charles "Connie" Crenshaw (1958)

This message was received from Gordon's classmate, Vera Turner Simpson, commenting on the article in the Dispatch and posted above.

Thank you so much, Connie, for sending out this amazing article written
by Dr. Kitzman and forwarded to you by Sandra B. Andrews. Gordon was our
classmate so we knew early on what a fine gentleman he would be the rest
of his life; though, it ended much too soon for all of his friends and
especially his family. He could have reached so many more in need of
his special talents. Having lived in Salisbury for a few years during
the eighties, when I read the thoughtfully, from deep in the heart
written remembrance by Dr. Kitzman, I felt as though I was right there
on High Rock Lake w/them. I learned so much more about Gordon (though,
was not at all surprised) that I could feel the pain that such a close
friend would feel. This remembrance has been so very special.

Vera Turner Simpson

02/07/14 12:34 PM #4    

Harold Shannon Gimbert (1960)

I was deeply saddened to hear of Gordons passing.  He and his brother George were great friends to me while in high school.  Gordon was part of our group ' The Aces'  a quartet that sang in many of the talent shows and programs at Albemarle.  Gordon was one who when he learned of the loss of Kay and my first child wrote me a very inspiring and uplifting  letter that meant a great deal to us both.  Although I hadn't kept in close touch with him I will never forget him.

Rest in Peace Gordon..

Shannon Gimbert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


go to top 
  Post Comment