Robert Gardner

Centenarian Robert (Hale) Gardner, (Bob) of Wakefield passed away on March 15, 2010 in Woburn. He was born in Nashua, New Hampshire on August 17, 1908. He was the only child of Mertie Hale and George Gardner.

His father was a locomotive engineer for the Boston & Maine Railroad. One of Bob's favorite childhood pastimes was sneaking a ride on the rails with his father. Bob was also a proud descendent of early Massachusetts settler Thomas Hale on his maternal side.

Bob graduated from Nashua High School in 1927 and from Northeastern University in 1931.

In 1933, he married his beloved Margaret MacGarvey. They were married 58 years until her death in 1991.

In 1931, Bob joined S.S. Pierce & Company, the importers and grocers in Boston and worked for them for 42 years retiring in 1973. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant and gunnery officer in the Mediterranean during World War II.

On returning from the war, Bob was transferred to Pierce's headquarters and moved to Wakefield and has lived on Elm Street for over 60 years. He served on several town boards and was grand marshal at one of the Memorial Day parades in the 1950's.

Bob is survived by his son Rob of Wakefield and his daughter Constance of Westport, Connecticut. Two grandchildren, Douglas Loynes of Dublin, Ohio and Janet Keener of Granby, Connecticut. Three great grandchildren, Erin Keener, Ryan and Jonathan Loynes.

There will be a memorial service at the First Parish Congregational Church in Wakefield on May 1, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt, P.O. Box 517 in Wakefield.


Read Robert Gardner's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Service

First Parish Congregational
1 Church Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Saturday, May 1, 2010, 11:00 AM

Cemetery

Private