Last updated on: November 27, 2025
Gordon Arnold Markle was born on March 22, 1918, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, USA. His parents were Isaac Thomas Markle (born 1891) and Ruth Ann Arnold (born 1892). From a young age, Gordon was part of a family whose name sometimes appears as “Markel,” “Markle,” or “Merckel.”
Quick Facts About Gordon Arnold Markle
| Full Name | Gordon Arnold Markle |
| Birthdate | March 22, 1918 |
| Died | 1982 |
| Husband/Wife | Wife: Doris May Rita Sanders (1920–2011) |
| Education | N/A |
| Age | died at 64 years |
| Parents | Isaac Thomas Markle and Ruth Ann Arnold |
| Grandchildren | Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Samantha Markle, Thomas Markle Jr. |
| Children | son: Thomas Wayne Markle Sr. |
| Net Worth | <$1 million |
Marriage and Family
Gordon married Doris May Rita Sanders, on 13 March 1941, in Perry County, Pennsylvania. They were parents of children including Thomas Wayne Markle Sr. (1944-), the father of Meghan Markle.
Roots and Heritage
Gordon’s family traces back to the Alsace region on the modern French-German border. The surname “Merckel/Markle” came from a German-speaking background. That means Meghan Markle has German-American ancestry on her father’s side since her paternal ancestors included settlers in America.
Later Life
Records show that Gordon died in July of 1979. Some sources show 1982 as his year of death, but it differs between genealogy pages. He lived the majority of his life in Pennsylvania and remained connected to his family roots.
READ ALSO: Meghan Markle Net worth, Age, Husband, Family, Facts & More
Significance in Meghan’s Story
Though Gordon was not a public figure, he is a part of Meghan Markle’s family history. Being her grandfather, he connects her to the greater story of her family’s heritage and migration to America. His German-Alsace background brings another element into Meghan’s diverse ancestry. For example, Meghan’s father Thomas was raised in Newport, Pennsylvania, as Gordon’s son.
Why It Matters
Understanding Gordon’s life helps put into perspective the many layers of Meghan Markle’s background. That one branch of her family comes from a German-speaking region shows how many different threads form one person’s story. It shows that even while Meghan is known globally, her roots include ordinary American lives-like Gordon’s.
