Gaylord Killinger Obituary

Killinger

Gaylord "Gay" Slichter

Killinger

March 22, 1942

December 31, 2021



Gay Killinger went home to be with the Lord from his home in Colorado Springs, CO, Friday, December 31. His wife, Sherry Ketenheim Killinger, of 58 years, and their son Michael Killinger were at his side.

Gay was the third child born to Leroy G. and Florence Slichter Killinger in Chambersburg, PA.

Gay and Sherry met while Sherry was attending college in Chambersburg and they were married in Cresson, PA in 1963.



Over the next 58 years their family greatly increased, starting with three sons: Jeffrey (Lori) Killinger, Broken Arrow OK, Michael (Linda) Killinger, Colorado Springs, CO, Eric (Lisa) Killinger Baldwin, WI. Two god-daughters are still very close to the family: Jessica (Joseph) Huggins, East Helena, MT & Amanda Burwell, Colorado Springs, CO. And finally, nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, with two more on the way round out the immediate family tree.



Gay was not defined by his work, but he really enjoyed working, and his sons all learned this trait and emulate it today. Gay started his professional career as a Human Resources Manager and subsequently worked for eight different companies stretching from coast to coast, with the last three companies being in Colorado Springs.



One of Gay's great joys in life was his vegetable and perennial gardening. Those who knew Gay knew that his yard and gardens were his labor of love and he relished in the fruits of his labor. For many years, Gay enjoyed beginning his day very early with a nice long run. He loved running in the cold, and we all remember his frozen mustache! As Gay got older, and his knees wore out, his preference changed from running in the cold to snow-birding in the warm winters in Arizona and Texas. Since his climate preferences changed over the years, so did his preference towards nice long warm walks.



Vista Grande Baptist Church has been a very large part of his life. As a Christian leader in the church over the past 41 years Gay has served in many roles: Deacon, Personnel Committee, Pastor Search Committee, and Sunday School Teacher. Gay loved playing on the men's softball team and played with all three sons at some point or another. He helped with the New Member's dinners and volunteered for literally any other roles or chores where there was a need. Gay was also a proud servant of The Gideons International for many years.



While we miss Gay every day, we have so much more to celebrate from his 79 years with us. We will celebrate his life and share this moment with our friends and family through a memorial service celebration on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Vista Grande Baptist Church, 5680 Stetson Hills Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80917.