Henderson, Gordon Ross
Posted Aug 30, 2021 | 8:55 AM
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Dad and Grampa, Gordon Ross Henderson, on Monday, August 23, 2021, in Fairview, AB, at the age of 74 years.
Gordon was born September 25, 1946, to Kenneth and Alexandra Henderson in Vancouver, BC.
Gordon had many passions and pursuits, starting in his teenage years with the school band. Under the influence of his father Kenneth, he later joined the Vancouver Kiwanis Boys Pipe Band, with whom he captured one 1st, two 2nd, and two 3rd, at the 1962 World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland. Following this, they were invited to play with the Massed Pipes and Drums at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He would later also join the Seaforth Islanders’ Pipe Band to continue his drumming career. Alongside his drumming he also nurtured an enduring love of woodworking that began during high school, where he completed numerous furniture projects in the mid-century style popular at that time.
Following high school, Gordon began building, and later racing, his own car in the 1960’s. It was also around that time that he bought his first camera and started taking photographs of some of his fellow racers. His love of photography would grow into a lifelong passion for imaging. Starting with pet photography, he would quickly move into commercial work, beginning with a local Vancouver area jeweller and a pipe yard. Eventually, a job opportunity would bring him to Edmonton, AB, where he built a family and a business in commercial aerial photography that took him across North America. He was very proud of his contributions to photography and won numerous awards. He was a member of the Professional Photographers of Canada, who include his prints in their permanent collection, as well as being awarded the Master of Photography Degree from the Professional Photographers of America.
After retiring from his work, he took an active role in his grandchildren’s lives, who remember him affectionately as Grampa. Gordon loved to share his story with all who crossed his path, and was known for his spontaneous generosity with all those around him.
Gordon is survived by his sister Carla (Jim) Bailey; his four children: Rebecca (Marc) Bessette, Alexander Henderson, Kristina (Jim) Tran, and Peter (Natalie) Henderson; as well as his four grandchildren: Katherine, Zachary, Emma, and Jackson.
A Wake will be held in his honour on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at Rossdale Community Hall in Edmonton, AB.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his honour to the Fairview Health Complex Foundation (P.O. Box 2141, Fairview, AB, T0H 1L0).
Condolences may be sent by visiting
- Date : 2021-08-23
- Location : Fairview, Alberta