Mr. Lester Eugene "Lefty" Gardner

Lester Eugene “Lefty” Gardner, 89, passed away on May 15, 2016, at the Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House. Mr. Gardner was born July 4, 1926 in Lamont, PA. He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Andrew Gardner and mother, Dora Miller Gardner; brothers, John and Petey Gardner; sisters, Gertrude Conrad and Gladys Hostler; daughter, Jeanne Gardner; and son, Ted Gardner. He graduated from Bellwood Antis High School in Bellwood, Pennsylvania and Catawba College in 1950 with a BA degree in physical education and history. Lester served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps (Force) from 1943-1946. He received the American Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation medal, and World War II Victory medal. His name was added to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC on June 9, 2007. Lester played football during college and was subsequently inducted into Catawba College’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He was a four year football letterman, 1946-49; honorable mention recipient Little All-American, 1949; honorable mention recipient Ap All-N.C., 1948-49; All North State Conference, 1947-49, Co-captain, 1949; All time Catawba Team, 1950; Member of 1947-48 Tangerine Bowl Champs; received Aycock Award as Catawba’s Top Senior Athlete; Varsity Club, 1946-50; (VP in 1948); Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. The legendary Catawba Coach Gordon Kirkland, Jr. stated that Lester was the best guard he had ever coached. He was a member of Catawba’s Chief’s Club. After college, he coached on two different state championship teams at Lumberton High School (2A) and Boyden (Salisbury) High School (4A). He was Chief of Kinesiotherapy at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury where he worked for 31 years. Lester enjoyed hunting, fishing, big band music, woodworking, restoring old cars, refinishing antiques, gardening, and watching football games. He volunteered for meals on wheels, and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte A. Gardner, two sisters, Pearl Patterson, Bellwood, Pa and Ada Marie Dengate, Barberton, Ohio, his brother, Jim Gardner, Altoona, Pa, three sons, Terrence (Terry) Gardner (Tina) of Pittsboro NC ,Timothy (Tim) Gardner (Kerry) of Salisbury, Thomas (Tom) Gardner of Roxboro, NC, and a daughter, Leslie Gardner Tully (Mike) of Snellville, Georgia. He is also survived by a grandson, Garrett Gardner of Salisbury, and five granddaughters, Katie Gardner Nickerson (Stephen) of Charleston, SC, Mallory Gardner of Chapel Hill, Victoria (Tori) Gardner of Wilmington, NC, Savannah and Chloe Tully of Snellville, Georgia. Arrangements: Visitation is Wednesday from 7pm to 9pm at Summersett Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday at 10am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church by Father John Eckerd with burial with military honors to follow at the church cemetery. Family and friends will be received at the home of the family after the burial. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church Memorial Fund, 375 Lumen Christie Lane, Salisbury, NC 28147. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Gardner family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com

Mr. Lester Eugene "Lefty" Gardner

July 4, 1926 - May 15, 2016