GATTON, Fred

GATTON, WHITE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/12/2016 at 02:45:27

Obituary ~ Fred Gatton
March 25, 1921 ~ August 12, 2011

Idaho Statesman
Bosie, Idaho
August 16, 2011

Fred Gatton, 90, of Boise, died Friday, August 12, 2011 at home of natural causes.

Fred was born on a farm in Decatur County, Iowa on March 25, 1921. He was next to the youngest of 15 children born to Levi and Ethel Gatton. Fred graduated from Leon High School, Leon, Iowa in 1939.

He joined the 168th Infantry Regiment in Des Moines, Iowa on December 10, 1940. In January and February of 1941 his unit was transferred to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. In the summer of 1941, he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to the 34th Infantry division Headquarters. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, his division was transferred to Ft. Dix, N.J. His unit on February 19, 1942 departed from the United States and landed in Belfast, North Ireland on March 2, 1942.

In the summer of 1942, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and transferred to the Eisenhower Headquarters in London to work on plans for the invasion of North Africa. When the plans were completed he was transferred back to his Division (the 34th) in October 1942. His division landed in North Africa in November 1942. When the Germans were defeated in North Africa his Division invaded Italy at Salerno. In 1943 he was promoted to Master Sergeant in charge of the Division Transportation and Supply Unit.

In February 1945 he was granted a furlough and sent back to the United States. He landed here on March 11, 1945. On March 29, 1945 he married Emilie Frances White, whom he met at a college dance in Pennsylvania 3 years before. He was Honorably discharged from the Army on May 12, 1945.

Shortly thereafter he and Emilie moved to Denver, Colorado. For the next 38 years he worked for the Public Service Company of Colorado. Some of the positions held were: Lab technician, Engineer, Division Engineer for the 10 divisions located outside the Denver area as well as Cheyenne, Wyoming, Gas Analysis Lab, and the High Altitude Gas Testing Lab. He retired from the company on March 7, 1983.

In November 1984 ee and his wife and their two adopted granddaughters moved to Boise, Idaho. Occasionally during his retirement, he did volunteer work at the Love Center and the Teen Challenge School. Fred was a very quiet man, a man of love and peace. He always gave up everything so that love and peace would reign.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Emilie; their three sons, Leon, Fred Jr. and John; two grandsons; six granddaughters; five great-grandsons; and two great-granddaughters.

There will be a viewing at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m., with a small service held sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. A committal service with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2016