Gordon Lee     Bywaters, 77     GLASTONBURY, Conn. -- Gordon Lee Bywaters, 77, of Glastonbury, Conn., beloved husband father and grandfather died Wednesday, July 25, 2007.     He was born Aug. 10, 1929, in Burgettstown, Pa., the son of the late Edward Franklin and Linda Mae (Gordon) Bywaters.      He was predeceased by his wife, Jacqueline Vestal Bywaters, to whom he was married for 51 years. He is survived by his four children, Lynn Bywaters, Lois Bywaters Turner and her husband Roger Turner, Kevin Lee Bywaters and his wife Mary-Kathryn Ann, Garrett Lee Bywaters and his wife Eleanor D'Aponte. He was much loved by his seven grandchildren, Andrew Gordon Turner, Jacqueline Mae Turner, Laura Brelynn Turner, Eric William Bywaters, Matthew Lee Bywaters, Sarah-Elizabeth Louise Bywaters and Angela Neva D'Aponte Bywaters.     He served in the U.S. Army twice as a Tank Commander while an enlisted soldier, and as a Lieutenant he served in the Korean War as an engineer. He graduated from Penn State University in 1952 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and received his Masters in Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1958. He worked as an engineer for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft for 34 years and retired in 1987 as Chief Engineer for Aerodynamics Systems and Components. He received a patent for his design of the ignition system for the RL-10 Rocket engine which was used on early space launch vehicles and planetary exploration probes.     He was an honorary member of Tau Beta Pi. An active member of the Glastonbury Historical Society, he enjoyed teaching elementary school children about the history of Glastonbury while leading them through Green Cemetery. He was also a Deacon at First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved to hike in the White Mountains, swim and fish at Little Beach; he was an avid fisherman and taught all of his children to fish. His hobbies included carving duck decoys, weaving and gardening. He had a passion for reading and was interested in such subjects as religion, history and archaeology; one of his great interests was the study of Early Man.      He and his wife traveled extensively, visiting England, Scotland, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France, among other places. He was an intelligent, thoughtful and loving man and will be greatly missed. He was valiant and courageous to the end, joking and showing concern for those around him in spite of his grave injuries. He lives on in the many streams and waters that he fished, in the mountains and in the memory of family and friends.     A memorial service will be held for Gordon and his wife Jacqueline on Friday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m., in the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 2183 Main St., Glastonbury. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. The Mulryan Funeral Home has care of arrangements.     To best honor Gordon, memorial contributions may be made to:      The Memorial Fund of First     Church of Christ, Congregational    2183 Maine St.    Glastonbury, Connecticut 06033    The Historical Society     of Glastonbury     1944 Main St.     Glastonbury, Connecticut 06033     or to The Welles Shipman     Ward Property    972 Main St.    South Glastonbury, Connecticut 06073