Al George Gajdos

Al George Gajdos, long time Lorain resident, died on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at the age of 88, at Regency Care Center in Monroe, Washington after a lengthy illness.
He was born June 17, 1922 in Lorain and graduated from Lorain High School in the class of 1941A. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII in Chico, California, where he met his wife to be Marjorie Nelson. They were married in 1944. After the war he brought his new family back to Lorain. Later they moved back to Chico for five years, then returned to Lorain in 1960.
Al served in the California State Guard, Naval Reserve, and Ohio State Guard where he attained the rank of Major. He drove Lorain city bus for ten years, and worked at US Steel for more than 20 years, mostly in pipe mill accounting. During this time he attended Lorain County Community College where he earned a degree as an LPN before retiring from US Steel.
His hobbies included fishing, camping, and traveling. He loved watching Lorain High School football games at George Daniel Field. He was a Square Dance Caller, a masseur, a prison guard, and a Eucharistic Minister and leader in a Charismatic Group, known as the "New Life Prayer Group", at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Lorain. He and his wife Marge served as a Boy Scout Leader for more than 20 years. They were married for 62 years until Marge's death in 2006 at the age of 79.
He spent the last two years living with family members, a son in Ohio and a son and grandson, in Washington, where he resided when he died, fulfilling his lifelong dream of moving back west. Survivors include four sons, Robert and John of Lorain, James of Boise, Idaho and Donald of Monroe Washington; 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 1305 E. Erie Avenue, Lorain. Rev. Fr. Richard E. Hudak, pastor will officiate. After mass, there will be time allowed for those who would like to share memories and the Veterans of Foreign War Post 451 combined with the American Legion Post 30 will conduct military honors. Following the services the family invites those attending to join them in the social hall of St. Anthony's for dinner. Al's remains will be buried next to his wife in the Nelson Family Plot in Ft. Jones, California.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. To send online condolences go to www.dovinfuneralhome.com.
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