William E. "Bill" Gardner

William E. “Bill” Gardner, 88, of Emporia went to be with his lord Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at Midland Care Hospice in Topeka. He was born May 6, 1930 in Montour Falls, NY. He was born the son of Frank and Dorothy Fox Gardner. Both are deceased as is one sister, Alice and one grandson, Brent Gardener.

Bill attended Montour Falls Grammar School and Odessa Central High School. He furthered his education in the military by gaining 2½ years of college credits through the University of Maryland.

He married Cara Lee Kennedy on January 3, 1953, the daughter of Merrill and Laura Kennedy of Emporia. Both deceased. They were married 57 years and 11 days. After battling a long illness Cara Lee passed away January 14, 2010. Bill is survived by three sons, David William of Elkton, SD, Paul Scott of Topeka and Mark Allen of Emporia; a sister Jean Hopper of Millport, NY; nieces, Kathy Heun of Watkins Glen, NY, and Beverly Sparling of Montour Falls, NY; a nephew Steven (Jinny) Gardner of Montour Falls, NY; and grandchildren, Carolyn of Hayesville, Stephanie of Ponca City, OK, Tommy of N. Kansas City, MO, Matthew of St. Louis, MO, Joshua of Lawrence James of Emporia, Kelly of Conroe, TX,  Richard Gardner of Emporia, Jacob Gardner and Christopher Gardner both of Topeka and several great-grandkids.

Bill retired from the United States Air Force January 1, 1970 as a Senior Master Sergeant with 22 years of active duty. From 1948 – 1950 he was on active duty in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a radio operator. He transferred to the USAF in December 1950. He attended Weapons and Explosive Materials training at Lowery AFB in Denver, CO. His first overseas duty was in Guam in the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean and assigned to the 3 ^rd Aviation Depot Squadron (ADS) a Nuclear Weapons maintenance and aircraft configuration squadron. He later signed to 3 other ADS’s as NCOIC in Plattsburg, NY, Goose Bay, Labrador and at Brize Norton in England. While assigned to the 3 ^rd Air Division Headquarters in Guam and U-Tapao (a wing division) in 1966-1968 he was on board several Vietnam bombing missions as both observer and to evaluate new proposed field equipment for future use.

After retirement Bill worked with the Chamber of Commerce on several veteran and other projects. Bill was one of Veterans Week in Emporia. He worked one year for the DeBauge Brothers Inc., as a warehouse supervisor of the Coors Beer delivery drivers and filled in as a driver during vacations. He worked for Bob Crawford Heat and Air Conditioning, Inc. as a repairman for 13 years. He was loaned to Wolf Creek for a few weeks and retired from there 12 years later. Bill was twice Master of Emporia’s Masonic Lodge #12 and also a member of The York Rite Bodies of Kansas. He was one of two members to ever receive The York Rite Bodies of Kansas Cross of Honor (KYCH) in Emporia lodge. He was twice Commander of the VFW Post #1980, five time Commander of the American Legion Post #5 and Command of the Kansas American Legion Fourth District.

Funeral services will be at Roberts-Blue-Barnett, 605 State St, Emporia at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 18, 2018. The family will meet with friends from 7 P.M. until 8 P.M. Friday, August 17, 2018 at the funeral home. Service will be conducted by Pastor Ron Harris of the First United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery, 2000, Emporia, KS 66801. Prairie.

The family suggest donations to be made to Ball-McColm Post #5, American Legion 2921 W. 12 ^th , Emporia, KS 66801 or Lowry-Funston Post #1980, 932 Graphic Arts Road, Emporia, KS 66801.