By Staff
Mr. Bill Gardner, 261 Dogwood Acres, Hampton, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at Sycamore Shoals Hospital following a brief illness. Mr. Gardner was the son of the late Columbus (Lum) and Annie Nicholson Bright Gardner and was a native of Virginia. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three sisters, Shirley Hardison, Mary Benida Ange, Annie Belle Johnson, a brother Richard Gardiner and a daughter, Kay Faulkner.
Mr. Gardner was a veteran having served in the Merchant Marines. He was retired from Public Relations for the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency. He was also a former minister of Westside Christian Church in Elizabethton, Plymouth Christian Church in North Carolina and Mt. Pleasant Christian Church in Mt. Pleasant, NC. He was a member of Valley Forge Christian Church and the Dashiell Masonic Lodge #238 F and AM. He was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a great Dad.
Mr. Gardner is survived by his wife, Pam Rash Gardner, of the home; two daughters, Joy Gardner and Marci Gardner of the home and a son, Billy Faulkner, Las Vegas, NV.
The Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Gardner will be conducted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Tetrick Funeral Home, Riverside Chapel, Elizabethton, with Mr. Donald Hardison, Minister, Mr. David Siebenaler, Minister and H. Clay Bailey, Minister, officiating. Music will be under the direction of Fredia Winters, organist, Kathy Waldrop, Joel Crisp and Gail Campbell, Lindsay Harsh and Jim Greene. The family will receive friends in the funeral home from 12- 2 p.m. Saturday and at the residence at other times. Interment will follow in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Danny Ward, Terry Banner, Rob Whitener, Tim Shields, Jeff Morton and Lance Harsh. Honorary pallbearers will be Lindsay Rash, II, Redd Glover, Danny Little, Arnold Clark, Keith Williams, Guy Horne and Sonny Turner.
Following the graveside service, everyone is invited to the Valley Forge Christian Church Fellowship Hall for a reception to celebrate the life of Bill Gardner.
Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to Adult Day Services, 603 Bert Street, Box 3, Johnson City, TN, 37601, the Elizabethton/Carter County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 682, Elizabethton, TN or Valley Forge Christian Church, 114 Valley Forge Christian Church Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643.
Condolences may be sent to the family electronically by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book, or by fax 423 542-9499. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the family. Office 423 542-2232; Obituary line 543-4917.
Paid Obituary