Blanche E. Gardner

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Blanche E. Gardner

ROCKLAND — Blanche E. Gardner, 90, died peacefully, Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at the Knox Center for Long Term Care. She was born in Pittsfield, MA April 29, 1922, the daughter of Fred L. and Goldie Davis Collins. After moving to West Rockport at a young age, she was educated in local schools and was Valedictorian of her 1940 graduating class at Rockport High School. Following graduation, she was employed by J. B. Pearson Co. in Thomaston.

On June 6, 1943, she married Clifford H. Gardner, Jr. at the First Baptist Church in Rockland. They made their home in Rockland and were married for 62 years where they raised their four children. After her children were all in school, she returned to work at Rockland’s South School in the lunch program. Later she began employment with GTE Sylvania in Waldoboro. She retired in 1984 after more than 20 years with GTE.

She was a great cook, had a green thumb, enjoyed swimming, picnicking, traveling, sewing, her dogs, and ice skating. She loved her husband, her children and her church, and in later years enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother to her family. For many years, along with her husband, she was active in the First Baptist Church of Rockland. She and her friend Sybil Mills founded the Nursery Program at the church. In later years, she attended the West Rockport Baptist Church, which she had joined as a child. She lived her Christian faith and was charitable, and especially enjoyed her membership in The Gleaners.

Mrs. Gardner is survived by two sons, John Gardner and his wife Linda of South China and Reverend James Gardner and his wife Rebecca of Houlton; a daughter, Janet Shaw and her husband James of South Paris; six grandchildren, Jonathan Gardner and his wife Patti of Waterboro, Sarah Gardner of Hollis, Tiffany Shaw of Harrison, Jared Shaw of South Paris, Benjamin Shaw and his wife Audrey of Harrison and Joel M. Gardner, Jr. of Niceville, FL; daughter-in-law, Cora Gardner of Niceville, FL; three great-grandchildren, Sawyer Shaw, Natalie Dumas and Aislinn Shaw as well as several nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband in 2005; an infant son, Jonathan; son, Joel M. Gardner; a brother, Fred Collins and sister, Glenys Hamalainen.

Friends and relatives visited Monday, January 7, at West Rockport Baptist Church, where a celebration of her life was held. Spring interment will be in West Rockport Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Rockport Baptist Church, P. O. Box 221, West Rockport, ME 04856. Arrangements are in care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. To share a memory or story with Mrs. Gardner’s family, please visit her online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.