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Submitted: 4/4/21 • Approved: 4/7/21 • Last Updated: 4/10/21 • R405098-G0-S3
November 15, 1923 - August 30, 2007
*Obituary
James Kenneth "Ken" Gardner, 83, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on August 30, 2007. Services will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, September 2, at the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton.
A native of Blue Ridge, Kentucky, he was a life-long resident of Hamilton County. Answering his country's call in 1942, Ken volunteered for service as a crew member and flew 60 combat missions with the Fighting Five on B-24 bombers based in Rabaul and Port Moresby, New Guinea. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor in action.
Returning after the war, Ken married Sue Riley of Hamilton, where they made their home and raised their children, Jim, Jayne, and Bob. He was active in many businesses, most notably Riley Funeral Home and Riley-Gardner Memorial Company. Ken was a community leader most significantly as a board member of Hamilton General Hospital and the Harris Healthcare System. He served his local community in many ways and was chosen Citizen of the Year in 1984. He was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Sue, of Hamilton; sons, Jim Gardner and his wife, Joan, of Mansfield, and Bob Gardner and his wife, Mary K., of Hamilton; daughter, Jayne Gardner Bauer and her husband, David, of Southlake; grandchildren: Bart Gardner, Megan McClendon and her husband, Gabe, Kathy Fuller, Brian Kunz and his wife, Dawna, Jamey Seely, Jessica Warlick, Sarah Wright, Stephen Bauer, Matt Bauer, Robbye K. Gardner Lengefeld and her husband, Jon, and Riley F. Gardner; great-grandchildren: Adam Fuller, Bryce Fuller, Zander Villinger, Raemy Villinger, Kaitlyn McClendon, Kylie McClendon, Gabe McClendon, Sydney K. Lengefeld and Caleb Lengefeld; brother, Bobby Gardner, of Tennessee; sister, Estelle, of North Carolina; and many other family members and friends.
Waco Tribune-Herald: 9/1/2007
Contributed on 4/4/21 by texasfindagraver
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Record #: 405098