Submitted by: Dan Rich

Donald R. Gardner

March 13, 1920 - Oct. 3, 2005

South Bend Tribune 10/6/2005                                       

Donald R. Gardner, 85, died Monday morning, Oct. 3, in Southfield Village following an unrelenting, determined struggle with a number of illnesses over a period of years. Donald R. Gardner was born in Clymers, Ind., on March 13, 1920, from the marriage of Russell S. Gardner and Mamie O. Layman. His father, mother, and a brother, Charles U. Gardner of Danville, Ky., preceded him in death. With the exception of his World War II service years, he was a lifetime area resident.

In South Bend on June 15, 1941, he married Gladys F. Baker of Plymouth. She died in May 1991.

He is survived by a son, Daniel (Penny) Gardner of Mishawaka, and a daughter, Dawn E. Gardner of Colorado Springs, Colo. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Stephanie (Rich) Curry of Apex, N.C., Ian (Jennifer) Gardner of Kinston, N.C., Nathan (Nalini) Gardner of Port Hueneme, Calif., Aaron E. Gardner of South Bend, Brittany Gardner of South Bend, Ind., Krista Brown of New York City, N.Y., and Lori Brown of Malibu, Calif. Two great-grandchildren, Todd Daniel Gardner and Jenianne Gardner of Kinston, N.C., survive him. Also surviving is a special friends of Don and his family, Rebekah Plaia of South Bend.

Don Gardner graduated from Riley High School in 1938. A 24-year veteran of the Studebaker Corporation, he walked out with his shift on the last day of South Bend production, Dec. 20, 1963. He retired from Allied Products Corp. in 1985. As a World War II veteran, he was a proud member of Company A, 562nd Signal Air Warnings (S.A.W.) Battalion. He held seven campaign stars on the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon earned during his nearly four years of military service. He was an active member serving as a Sunday school superintendent and teacher as well as a deacon at the Osceola Grace Brethren Church. Don and his wife, Gladys, served there consistently in numerous church service positions for well over two decades.

Friends may visit on Friday, Oct. 7, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Zimmerman-Inman Funeral Home, 1109 Lincoln Way West, Osceola. Funeral services will be on Saturday at 11 a.m., with viewing one hour prior in the funeral home. Pastor Davy Troxel and Pastor Greg Serafino will be officiating. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Joseph Hospital, Mishawaka, and Southfield Village for the many kindnesses shown over the recent months and years. Memorial donations may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.