Obituary
Clarence D. “Skip” Jordan, a beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather, passed away on Thursday, April 28, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida surrounded by his adoring family. He was 82 years old. He is survived by the love of his life Arlene “Gracie” Jordan (nee Gibbons), daughters Kathryn “Katy” Wallace (Kenny) and Leslie DiPlacido (Frank), brothers Sterling Jordan and William “Bill” Jordan and three grandchildren Lena Wallace, Drew Wallace and Catherine “Little Gracie” DiPlacido. Skip was born on December 27, 1939 in Daytona Beach, Florida, but grew up in the Tampa/Brandon area. In 1957, he graduated from Brandon High School and quickly joined the U.S. Air Force. He served for 4 years and was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. After the service, Skip attended the University of South Florida for 2 years and then transferred to University of Florida. He participated in Cooperative Education, going back and forth between school in Gainesville and work in Tampa with Bedingfield & Associates. At UF, Skip was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and in 1966, he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, Skip moved back to Tampa to continue working for Bedingfield & Associates and where he first met Hugh Clark, who was his best friend for over 60 years. When Hugh took an opportunity in Fort Myers, Skip soon followed. They worked side by side at B&I Contractors/Electric from 1969 until Skip retired in 1994. Skip was an avid golfer and truly loved the game. In 2002, he came out of retirement to be the “cart boy” at Fort Myers Country Club … arriving at 5:30am to set up carts for the day with the added benefit of receiving the first tee time each morning for him and his golf buddies. Sadly after 17 years, he was forced to retire due to the COVID pandemic. There were a few things Skip was known for … his love for the Gators, wearing orange and blue, Titleist hats, signature pipe, and always had his shirt collar turned up. But nothing was better known than the love he had for his family. He was a generous, kind and most loving man who will truly be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him.
My sincere condolences to Arlene, Katie, Catherine all his family and everyone who knew this most exceptional man.
I first met Skip at B & I where my best friend Harvey Clark and his dad, and Skip's best friend, Hugh Clark worked together. I admired Skip's intelligence and mild manner and we shared a common interest of jazz music and love of British automobiles, namely his beloved MGTD, that he owned since his Air force days. These interests cemented a bond of friendship and mutual appreciation of one and other. He would often share a CD of his favorite music that I always enjoyed. I fondly recall a time when we went to a Beach Boys concert with his daughter Katie and members of the Clark clan at Clemson University and he learned to " Surf" to Surfin USA. He got such a kick out of that moment. Then, he honored me with being the next steward of his beloved MG in 1989. Even though the car's title said Dan Summers, the car, I felt was still Skip Jordan's. I was just in current possession and safekeeping until Skip would call me up and tell me he was in town and ask that he could I use the car to drive around or go to lunch while in Naples. He appreciated that I took safe care of his car and enjoyed it as much as he did. So many fond memories of Skip, my friend.