Irving Gardner

Bennington – Mr. Irving Gardner, 91, a resident of Knapp Drive, Bennington, VT, died Tuesday morning, March 23, 2010, at his home.
Born in Johnsonville, NY, on November 18, 1918, Mr. Gardner was the son of the late LeRoy and Lelia (Salmon) Gardner. He grew up in Johnsonville and attended schools there and in Hoosick Falls, NY.
He was a World War II Navy veteran serving from 1943 until 1945. Mr. Gardner was first married to the former Mary Rice, who pre-deceased him. He later married Mary (Wilcox) Brewer in Las Vegas in 1990; she died January 22, 2010.
In earlier years he had worked as a truck driver for Gay’s Express, and for many years prior to retiring he worked at the former Williams and Bugbee Garage as a mechanic and wrecker operator.
He was a member of the North Pownal Congregational Church and was a 62-year member of the Bennington Fire Department Hook and Ladder Company, where he had served as Company Foreman. He was the oldest member of the department. He was a member of the Mt. Anthony Lodge 13 Free and Accepted Masons and the Red Mountain Chapter Order of the Eastern Star and Cairo Temple Shriners. He was a life member of American Legion Post 13 of Bennington. Following his retirement he became a volunteer at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center with the Grey Ladies Program. He enjoyed playing cards, doing word search games and crossword puzzles.
Mr. Gardner will be remembered for always being polite and joking with people. He leaves his sister, Elsie Williams of Hoosick, NY, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 27, at 11 am at the North Pownal Congregational Church with Reverend Gary Rogers officiating. Private burial will take place in the Park Lawn Cemetery in Bennington.
Friends may call at the Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home on Friday evening from 6 to 8 pm when the family will be present.
Memorial gifts in memory of Mr. Gardner may be made to either the Mt. Anthony Lodge F&AM or the North Pownal Congregational Church in care of the Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, VT, 05201.
The following organizations are asked to meet at the funeral home on Friday evening to conduct services for Mr. Gardner: Bennington Fire Department at 6 pm, American Legion Post 13 at 6:30 pm, Mt. Anthony Lodge F&AM at 7 pm, Red Mountain Chapter O.E.S. at 7:30 pm.
To send personal email condolences to the family, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.