Earl Gardner

Earl P. Gardner, the son of William E. Gardner and Grace Parks, was born in Gordon, Neb., on Feb. 7, 1932, and passed on March 29, 2013, at his home in Glenns Ferry.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at Glenns Ferry VFW Post #3646. Cremation was under the care of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Earl enlisted as a Seaman Apprentice in the U.S. Navy on May 1, 1951. His various ratings were SA, SN, AN, PHAN, PH3, PH3, PH1 and PHC.

Earl and Anna married on May 14, 1954 as they dashed from Monterey, Calif., to his new duty station in Pensacola, Fla. Together, they purchased a home in Escondido, Calif., where Anna and the children, Lydia Ann, Kenneth E. and Michael Edward, resided safely when they could not join him. This family home was sold prior to departing for his last duty station on the Island of Oahu. His little family then rejoined the extended family, which had previously migrated westward from Nebraska.

Earl settled first in Mountain Home to farm and raise cattle.

Earl graduated from the Idaho State University's Peace Officers Training Academy on Nov. 22, 1974, Class #24. He then joined the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement in the Weigh-Station Division.

During this time the family purchased another little farm in Glenns Ferry, then a bigger farm in Lincoln County. After again retiring and moving back to the little farm in Glenns Ferry, he and Anna became actively involved in local affairs.

Earl served as councilman and they both were heavily involved with the local VFW, senior center and Elmore County Fair Board, as well as many other organizations.

Earl transferred to the retired list of the U.S. Navy/Naval Reserves effective Jan. 1, 1981.

In 1988, Earl joined the Idaho Department of Agriculture, serving many years before retiring again.

Earl faithfully served to help preserve democracy as he stood firm on many fronts and always held his ground; never-ever taking an easy route from any difficult situation. He was a stern, tough Christian that never wore his faith on the outside, and he did not indulge nonsense.

During his military service Earl was awarded the following: the Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal with five awards, China Service Medal, Korea Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, with two awards, and for Honorable Service in the Korean War from July 1950 To July 1953. The following is a list of Earl's service vessels and stations from May 1951 to March 1, 1971: NRTC San Diego, Calif.; NAS, Treasure Island, San Francisco, Calif.; NAS, Monterey, Calif.; USS Henrico (APA 45).; PH "A" School, Pensacola, Fla.; FASRON 51 Sanford, Fla,; VCP-61, NAS Miramar, Calif.; CAG 19, USS Yorktown (CVA-10); VFP-61, NAS Miramar, Calif.; Attack Squadron 192, VFP-61, VU-7, Chula Vista, Calif,; VCP-61, NAVY #943, HVPHOTORONTO SIX ONE, NAS Agana, Guam, U.S. Natechtrau NAS, Pensacola Fla.; MBC 3 DET. XRAY, PATRON 31, NAS Noris, San Diego, Calif.; Patrol Squadron 46 (PACFLT), Fleet Intelligence Center Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

I've heard it said that you cannot take anything with you when you leave this life, but I have found that Earl P. Gardner took a few things away when he left. One of those is the deepest respect and love of his family. He leaves us all with reminders of his love and fierce loyalty to country, state, local government and Glenns Ferry. Earl did something that only a few brave men will ever do.... Earl left a void that will never be filled, and in the end he passed in peace, in his home and in his bed, with his family close by.

Earl is survived by: his sons, Michael Gardner and partner Danny Still, of Pocatello; Kenneth and wife Denice Gardner, of Boise; his daughter, Lydia Ann Hitchcock, of Glenns Ferry; his brother, Charles Gardner, of Gooding; his sisters, Mildred Closson, of Oregon; Maxine Burke, of Arkansas; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Anna, four brothers and one sister.

Memorials in Earl's name can be sent to VFW Post #3646, P.O. Box 483, Glenns Ferry, ID 83633, or the Three Island Senior Center, P.O. Box 263, Glenns Ferry, ID 83623.