On Friday, March 16, 2018 beginning at 6:30 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, 185 Boulevard Street, Orangeburg, South Carolina the following organizations will conduct their memorial services:  Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and The Links, Inc.
Memorial services for Dr. Robert C. Gordon will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church.  Interment services will follow immediately at Belleville Memorial Gardens, Orangeburg, South Carolina.
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Dr. Robert Calvin Gordon, 75, passed away Thursday, March 8, 2018 at his home after an extended illness.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina, with the Reverend Mack McClam presiding. Burial will be in Belleville Memorial Gardens.

Born on August 15, 1942, in Williamsburg County, South Carolina to the late Robert L. and Ruth Cooper Gordon, Robert Calvin was the third of five children. He was educated in Williamsburg County schools. He graduated from Benedict College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1963, and went on to earn a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Howard University in 1969.

Robert Calvin taught science for two years in Greenwood, South Carolina before going to dental school.  He was commissioned into the United States Army as a 1 st Lieutenant in April 1969, where he practiced on active duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, until 1972. He served in the United States Army Reserve for 24 years as a dentist retiring as a Colonel in 1996. Robert Calvin and his family moved to Orangeburg in 1972, where he worked in a mobile dental unit for the health department. Robert Calvin was the longest practicing dentist in Orangeburg having practiced for 45 years. He started his private practice in 1973, and practiced until June 2017.

Robert Calvin was raised in Bethesda Methodist Church, and was a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church where he served for many years on the finance committee. He was a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He was a member of several professional organizations including the Edisto Dental Study Club, South Carolina Dental Association, American Dental Association, National Dental Association, International College of Dentists, and the Palmetto State Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association. He served as the first African American president of the Orangeburg chapter of the Kiwanis International. Robert Calvin was on the Board of Visitors at Claflin University and the Board of Trustees at the Medical University of South Carolina.

In addition to his parents, Robert Calvin was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Catherine Matthews Gordon; brother, Dr. Rudolph Giles Gordon, Sr.; and sister, Joyce Loraine Gordon.

Robert Calvin is survived by his daughters Donna Gordon Green (Gregory) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Audrey Elaine Gordon (Northan Golden) of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and Helen Gordon Gary (Brian) of Montgomery, Alabama; one sister, Jo Emily Knox  (Nathaniel) of Columbia, Maryland; one brother, William Gilbert Gordon of Atlanta, Georgia; three sisters-in-law, Margie Giles of Lane, South Carolina, Glenda Tucker (Frank) of Columbia, South Carolina, and Vivian Matthews of Greeleyville; grandchildren, David, Joseph, Alexis, and Lila Green of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Robert and Matthew Golden of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and Claire Gary and Brian Gary, Jr. of Montgomery, Alabama; one aunt, Delsenia Gordon of Kingstree, South Carolina; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.