Gordon Deneau

Gordon “The Hello Darlin’ Man” Oliver Deneau, age 82, passed away Sunday, March 14, 2021 in his home in Scotland, PA with his wife Eleanor Chavez Deneau by his side. He is survived by his sister fay Faulkner of Federalsburg, Maryland, along with his eleven children Allison Deneau, Esther Deneau, Gordon Deneau, Quentin (Jessica) Deneau, Scott Deneau all of California, Lloyd Deneau of Florida, Nora (John) Deneau-Klenzing, Adam Deneau, Nathan Deneau, Tibetha (Danny) Lopiccolo and Matthew (Shanel) Deneau all of Pennsylvania. He is also survived by 30 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. He is preceded in death by his father Lloyd H. Deneau, his mother Marie (Magers) Deneau, his step-mother Mabel Deneau, his sister Iona Gray and her son Dale Gray, all of Maryland, along with his granddaughter Ashley Deneau of Florida.
Gordon was born in Hurlock, Maryland on August 29, 1938. He lived there before moving to Stockton, California with his wife. He resided there from 1964 until 1987 before moving to Scotland, PA. He served in the Navy on the S.S. Coral Sea from 1955 until 1959. Over the years, he worked at Sharpe Army Depot in California for 33 years before transferring to Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania. While working at Sharpe Army Depot, he also worked a part-time job at ICX Trucking Company while maintaining a B average at Delta College, earning his bachelor’s degree in business.
Music was incredibly important to him, and he played in numerous country bands including the Moonlighters, Dry Gulch Band, Backwoods Country and AK Country. He performed in the Appalachian Jubilee along with numerous other gigs over the years. If he wasn’t playing guitar, he enjoyed listening to music or coming up with songs on the spot. He had a riveting sense of humor and made everyone laugh with his corny jokes. One of his classics was “If buttercups are yellow, what color are hiccups? Burple.” No matter the situation, he was always optimistic and never complained. He loved his family, and he was the master of “squeezos” and would hand them out like candy. He enjoyed food when it came his way, and if you asked him how it takes, he would say “Tastes like another.” He had a huge sweet tooth, and some of his favorites included chocolate cupcakes, chocolate ice cream and peppermint patties, just to name a few. He was loved by many and will be missed. See you later, alligator! (When your tail’s a little straighter).
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 1pm in the Chapel of the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Chambersburg. There will be a viewing one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Lincoln Cemetery.