DWIGHT 'GATOR' GOSNELL

Alaska resident Dwight George Gosnell, best known as "Gator" of Gator Glass, lost his battle with cancer on Sept. 27, 2003, surrounded by family and friends in his Wasilla home.

A celebration of eternal life took place Tuesday at Valley Baptist Tabernacle Church, with a viewing prior to the service. A service was held at Anchorage Baptist Temple on Wednesday, and an additional service will be held today at Henry-Cochran Funeral Home in Blue Ridge, Ga., with a viewing at 1 p.m. and service at 2 p.m. He will be interred at the Friendship Baptist Church No. 3 Cemetery in Blue Ridge.

Born Oct. 10, 1926, in Clarksburg, W.Va., to Arthur Carl and Myrtle Gosnell, he spent his early years in Homestead, Fla. As a youth he enjoyed hunting, "frogin," fishing and participation in his local church.

In 1944 Mr. Gosnell answered the call of his country in the South Pacific, where he served in World War II as a SeeBee. In 1950, he married Jeanie Foster who would be his sole companion and the love of his life. A few years later in 1953, he greeted the birth of his only child, Donna Jean.

In the early 1960s, Mr. Gosnell came to Alaska in search of new opportunities and was immediately employed as a craftsman for Capitol Glass. A short time later he sent for Jeanie and Donna and made Alaska his permanent residence. Over the next several years he was employed by Fuller Glass and Paint and became a founding partner of Inlet Glass Company. In 1979 he and Jeanie opened Gator Glass Company Inc., which continues to serve the needs of Alaskan individuals and businesses today.

While living and working in Southcentral Alaska, his family said, he continued his penchant for travel, big-game hunting, fishing and flying, as well as community service and church involvement. "He was known as a man that would give any hard worker a chance, a friend that never considered the time of day, and a devoted husband and father that cherished his family and God," they said.

Mr. Gosnell is survived by his wife Jeanie; daughter and son-in-law Donna and Rocky Ellis; grandson Heath Wilhelmsen; sisters Joan Ball of Blairsville, Ga.; Ruth Robinson of Homestead, Fla., Helen Dhooge of Dallas, Ga., Lois Thelander of Brooksville, Fla., and Wyeth Gosnell of Homestead, Fla.

Arrangements handled by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.