Charles A. Gardner

TOWN of WARREN - Charles A. Gardner age 83 passed away peacefully on Saturday morning January 21, 2017 in Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown.  He had his loving family at his side.  He was born on September 8, 1933, son of the late Alvin L. and Edith Stall Gardner.  A lifelong area resident he was raised on his family dairy farm and educated in Richfield Springs Central School.  From the time of his youth he worked on the Stony Acres Dairy Farm, eventually buying the farm from his parents.  He retired from farming in 1995.

On September 28, 1957 he was united in marriage with the former Alberta Sylvia Martin in the Richfield Springs United Methodist Church.  They shared a devoted union of fifty-eight years until her passing on July 20, 2015.  After his retirement from dairy farming he worked on weekends as a delivery man for the Richfield Springs Penny Saver.  He found great joy in taking his grandchildren with him on the delivery route where they would always be sure to stop and have snacks with their grandfather.   Mr. Gardner was a member of the Church of Christ Uniting, Richfield Springs.  In his leisure time he enjoyed taking rides with his family and going to auctions.  Charles will always be remembered as a devoted family man and will be sadly missed by all.

Surviving are three sons and their wives, Alvin and Merrie Sue Gardner of Columbia Center, Joseph and Cora Gardner of Warren, Kenneth and Kim Gardner of Warren, one daughter Marcia Bennett and her husband Derek of Warren, five brothers and their wives, George and Carrie Gardner of Warren, James and Marion Gardner of Mohawk, Robert Gardner of Warren, Jack Gardner of Cullen, and David Gardner of Warren , twelve grandchildren, Samuel, Jeanette, Rebecca and fiancé' Omar, Crystal, Melissa, Jason, Jered, Joeal, Jerald, Lacey and her fiancé' Cody, Keira and Calahan, six great grandchildren, Joshua, Owen, Amyah, Emeli, Taylor and Carter, several nieces, nephews and cousins.  Besides his parents and wife Alberta, he was preceded in death by one brother, William, and three sister-in-law's, Irene, Gladys and Susan Gardner.

Calling hours for Mr. Gardner will be on Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James Street; Richfield Springs.  Funeral service will follow at 6:00 pm in the funeral home with the Reverend Mark Ioset, Pastor of the Church of Christ Uniting, Richfield Springs officiating.

Interment will take place later this spring in Springfield Center Cemetery.  Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Richfield Springs American Legion Post # 616.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.