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John L. Gardner Kailua-Kona, HI QCWA # 28544 Chapter 194 |
John L. Gardner, 91, of Willow Street, Pennsylvania, formerly of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Ione A. (Groff) Miller-Gardner, sharing 18 years of marriage together. Born in Santa Rosa, CA, he was the son of the late Leo Dell and Lillian Inez (LeGette) Gardner.
John graduated from high school in LaGrange, IN, in 1944. After high school, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during W.W. II, achieving the rank of Sonar Man 3rd Class, and earning the American Area Ribbon and Victory Medal. After discharge from the military, John attended the University of Wisconsin and earned an associate's degree in agriculture. He then went on to find employment with Western Electric as an installer, retiring in 1983 with 31 years' service.
Gifted with electronics and technology, John volunteered with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Kailua- Kona, HI, from 1984 - 2000, installing and maintaining phone and network systems at the facility. In his early days in California, John became a Ham radio operator. He continued this hobby over the years and served with the Red Cross in Hawaii by setting up radio communications during emergencies and disasters. John was also a pilot with the Civil Air Patrol in the 1950s.
In his spare time, John was very active in the Full Gospel Men's Fellowship, and he enjoyed his friendship with Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM.
In addition to his wife, John is survived by his daughters, Carol L. Carman, of HI, and Joyce A. (Jas. Michael) Brown, of San Antonio, TX; son, William R. Gardner, of Lodi, CA; grandchildren, Prajna Faux, Francine LaForest, Benjamin Gardner, and Makoa Carman; 8 great-grandchildren; step-son, Gregory H. (Tamara) Miller, of Strasburg; step-daughter, Christine (Morgan) Frost, of Leola; 7 step-grandchildren, and 9 step-great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Doris Mae "Dee" (Costa) Gardner, a brother, James Gardner, and sisters, Mary Justine O'Connor and Patricia (Griffin) Stone.
Committal services with military honors will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, August 4, 2017, at West Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, 72-3245 Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. The family kindly asks that you not send flowers, but instead consider a donation to YWAM Kona - University of the Nations, 75-5851 Kuakini Highway, Kailua - Kona, HI 96740-2199. Arrangements entrusted to Dewald Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc. Quarryville, Pennsylvania, and Dodo Mortuary, Inc., Kealakekua-Kona. Online guestbook at http://www.dewalds.com/