Kenneth Lloyd Gardner, 91, of Newcomerstown, passed away on Monday, October 30, 2023, at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover. Born April 3, 1932 in Tuscarawas County’s Perry Twp., near Westchester, he was a son of the late John “Bert” and Helen Lucinda (Weingarth) Gardner.
Kenny proudly served his country as an Army medic in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954, was a Lifetime member of the Tuscarawas V.F.W. Post #7943, and a member of the Newcomerstown American Legion Post #431. He was also an original member of the Westchester Senior Center since 1997 and a member of the Uhrichsville Moose #740. He enjoyed playing cards and spending time outdoors in his side by side. Above all, he deeply loved his family and looked forward to being with them whenever he could. He was a longtime member of West Union Church at Gilmore.
An active member of his community throughout his life, Kenny served several terms as a Perry Twp. Trustee, drove bus for Lakeland Schools from 1960 to 1965 and had been an employee of Perry Twp., as well. In 1965, he joined his family’s business – Gardner Lumber – and continued, along with his brothers, until retiring in the early 1990s.
Kenny will be deeply missed by his sister, Faye Tharp; brothers, Harvey Gardner and Richard Gardner; stepchildren, Carol (Bill) Estell, Mary Dunfee, Fred Dickinson, Diana (Ron) Phillips, Karol Vosick, Keith (Sharon) Dickey, Kathy (Vic) Bresseur, and Kris (Sabrina) Dickey; stepdaughter-in-law, Joan Dickinson; stepson-in-law, John Casteel; and many step grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred V. (Peeper) Gardner to whom he was married from 1991 until her passing in 2014; second wife, Phyllis Yvonne (Pool) Dickey to whom he was married from 2016 until her passing in 2020; brothers, John R., Clifford G., Glenn E., and Donald H. Gardner; and stepchildren, David Dickinson and Laura Casteel.
Pastor Garry Marlatt will officiate a 5:00 p.m. funeral on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the R. K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison. He will be interred at West Union Cemetery on a future date. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
740.922.1970
www.lindseyfh.com
memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663.