Charles Ira Gardner

Charles Ira Gardner of Easton, MD died on Saturday, July 3, 2004 at Memorial Hospital at Easton. He was 89. Born in Great Falls, Montana on June 21, 1915 he was the son of the late Charles L. and Agnes Brusett Gardner. Following his graduation from high school in 1934, he attended three years of night school at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II where he received the American Defense Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his release from active duty he worked for the Bureau of the Public Debt in the Treasury Department where he achieved the title of Division Director serving in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois and Parkersburg, West Virginia. He retired after 48 years of service and has lived in Easton, MD since 1989. He attended St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, was Past Master Hesperia Lodge #411 A.F. & A.M. Chicago, IL and a member of Coats Lodge #102 A.F. & A.M. Easton, MD. In his younger years, he was a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and enjoyed swimming, gardening and traveling. Mr. Gardner is survived by his wife the former Marguerite Yvonne Blackburn whom he married March 10, 1984; a son Tom Hughes Gardner of Rockford, Illinois; a step-daughter Yvonne Bogert of Cambridge, Maryland; a step-son Fred T. Kerns of Charleston, West Virginia; a grandchild, Kim Davis; several step – grandchildren and a great grandchild, Taylor Davis. He was predeceased by a brother Vernon Loraine Gardner. Services will be held at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Easton, MD on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., where friends may call one hour prior to the service. A Masonic Memorial Service conducted by Coats Lodge #102 A.F. & A.M. will be held at the funeral home just prior to the service. Burial will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Easton, MD. Memorial Donations may be made to Coats Lodge #102 A.F. & A.M., 114 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601 or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station P. O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163 or to your favorite charity.