Charles "Chuck" W. Jordan

August 28, 1937 - March 19, 2010

Mr. Charles William (Chuck) Jordan, Jr., 72, of Rocky Ford died unexpectedly Friday, March 19th, 2010. Charles was born August 28, 1937 on a train pulling into Pueblo, CO, the son of the late Charles William and Gertrude Amanda (Bartels) Jordan. He grew up in Leadville and Buena Vista, CO, and following his high school graduation from Buena Vista High School he attended Colorado State University where he earned a Bachelor's degree. During his attendance at the University he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Following graduation he enlisted in the Navy and at the time of his discharge obtained the rank of Lieutenant. While in the Navy, he married Carolyn E. Clifford on June 14, 1964 in Whittier, CA. They had four children. Following the Navy he returned to Colorado where he served for a brief time in the governor's office as a budget analyst and left from there to Lamar, CO where he spent eight years as Dean of Business services and for a brief period Acting President for Lamar Community College. During his period in Lamar he obtained a Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado. From Lamar he moved to Farmington, NM to assume the position of Dean of Administrative Services at San Juan College where he served until opening a small business. He later sold the business and moved to Cortez, CO where he was Finance Director for the city and later Manager of the Cortez Sanitation District. He left Cortez to assume the position of Vice President of Fiscal Affairs at Oklahoma Panhandle State University retiring in 2004 and returning to Colorado with his wife Carolyn to make their home in Rocky Ford. During his life he was active in a variety of professional and service organizations. He was president of the Colorado Association of Community College Business Officials, president of the Southeast Colorado Board for the Handicapped, treasurer of the Southeast Colorado Council for the Arts and Humanities, president of the Farmington Rotary and vice president of the Cortez Lions. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Rocky Ford. Chuck loved his family, gardening, bowling, trying new recipes, and the Colorado mountains in which he grew up. He was a steadfast Bronco fan. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; daughter Ellen (Charles) Stafford of Atlanta, GA; daughter Jennifer (William) Kemp of Penrose, CO; son Michael (Heidi) Jordan of Durango, CO; daughter Julie (Michael) Barker of Canon City, CO. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Jessica, C.J., and Chloe Stafford; Jacob, Josalee and Megan Kemp; Keegan and Aislinn Jordan; Michael, Dane, Ethan and Joshua Barker. A Memorial Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Ford at 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 25th, with Rev. Olga Hard officiating. There will be no viewing as cremation has been effected. A private family inurnment will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Montezuma County Partners; 1011 North Mildred Rd., Suite A, Cortez, CO 81321 or Buena Vista Heritage Museum; P.O. Box 1414, Buena Vista, CO 81211 or online at buenavistaheritage.org. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. To send condolences or to view the Video Tribute go to www.fordustick.com.