Obituary of Douglas Lawrence Jordan

Douglas Lawrence Jordan was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on January 25, 1930, where his Coast Guard officer father was stationed.  He was the son of Cdr Chester L. Jordan and Clara I. Harris. He attended schools in Cape May, NJ and Falmouth, Massachusetts, graduating from Belmont, (Mass.) High School in 1948, and graduated from Harvard College in 1952.  In 1953 he received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, and then was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Coast Guard.  Following two years of active duty with the Coast Guard in the Western Pacific, he continued with a second career as a “weekend warrior” with the Coast Guard Reserve in Massachusetts, Michigan, Puerto Rico and Los Angeles, and retired as a Commander in 1990 after nearly 40 years’ service which included command of the CG Reserve unit in North Hollywood, California.

On release from active duty in 1955, he taught school briefly, and then started with the Rand Corporation in 1957 as a computer programmer on the IBM Whirlwind computer and the SAGE Air Defense System. The company changed its name to SDC, Burroughs, and finally, Unisys before he retired in 1988 after working on the design and development of a number of computerized military C3 systems. He then did consulting work until he finally retired in 1995.

On October 15, 1953 he married the former Nancy Catherine Nevins of Kalamazoo, Michigan and they were blessed with four daughters, Sarah Gordon (Bruce), Rebecca Jordan (Douglas R. Cubbison), Laura Babbitt (Garry) and Cynthia Jordan (Christopher E. Robin), and three grandchildren, Robert Gordon and Rachel and Daniel Babbitt.

He was raised a Master Mason in Oceanside Lodge No. 381 at Oceanside California in 1976, and affiliated with Herndon Lodge No 264 in 1977.  He served as Master of Herndon Lodge and Virginia Lodge of Research, High Priest of Loudoun Royal Arch Chapter No 55, and Commander of Piedmont Commandery No. 26, and also served as a District Deputy for each of these.  He was a member of the Alexandria Bodies of the A. & A. Scottish Rite and Kena Shrine Temple.  In 1998-1999 he served as Grand High Priest of Virginia, encouraging all to “Share the Spirit”.

He served as Chairman of the Advisory Board for Fairfax Assembly No 3, IORG, as a member of the Charter board of Cmdr William L. Herndon Chapter, Order of DeMolay, and as Associate Bethel Guardian of Bethel 52, JDI.  As a member of Herndon Chapter #55, Order of the Eastern Star, he was proud to have served as Worthy Patron with three Past Honored Queens and Past Bethel Guardians of Bethel #52.

He served as the Grand Scribe (Grand Secretary) of the Grand Council of Knight Masons of the U.S.A. and the Deputy Grand Governor of Virginia for the York Rite Sovereign College of North America.

Douglas was a member of Pender United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed singing in the choir, serving in various offices and participating in Bible studies, always finding ways to continue to grow in faith and serve his Lord. Douglas passed away on May 10, 2018 after a courageous 4 year battle with lung disease, leaving many friends and family to mourn his passing.

Family will receive guests for visitation and viewing, 4:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 and 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 18 at Pender United Methodist Church, 12401 Alderwoods Drive, Fairfax Virginia, 22033.  Eastern Star and Masonic services will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 at Pender United Methodist Church.  Funeral Service will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday May 18 at Pender United Methodist Church.

Memorial donations suggested to one of the following:

Grand Lodge of Virginia

4115 Nine Mile Rd

Richmond, VA 23223

Grand Lodge of California

1111 California Street

San Francisco, CA 94108

Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.

Robert W. Bigley

1033 Long Prairie Road, Suite 5

Flower Mound TX 75022-4230

Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons in Virginia

P.O. Box 2276

Portsmouth, Virginia 23702

Note in memo for Alzheimer’s Research in memory of D L Jordan

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