Henry E. Gardner

Henry E. “Paw Paw” Gardner, 86, of Wilmington passed into his eternal home with his Lord Jesus on Monday April 8, 2013.

Henry was born November 26, 1926 in Angier, NC, and was a graduate of Angier High School. He was a rifleman in the United States Army serving in Japan during WWII where he received the Asiatic Pacific Metal, an American Theater Ribbon and the WWII Victory Medal. After proudly serving his country, he moved to Carolina Beach where he met his loving wife of 65 years, Vivian Fisher Gardner.

Henry retired from International Paper and United Paper Workers International Union. One of Henry’s greatest adventures was on the First Inaugural Flight from Wilmington to Washington, DC in 2010 to honor WWII Veterans. Henry was long time member of Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, having served as Treasurer and Elder.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters and his oldest son, Henry Howard Gardner, Sr.

Henry was loved dearly by his family, surviving are his wife Vivian, daughter Karen Gardner, son Rick Gardner and wife Polly, granddaughters, Melanie Gardner (Tim), Missy Dudzidskia and husband Andrew and Melodye Bridges. Grandsons, Hal Gardner and wife Colleen, and Stephen Gardner. Great-Grandchildren, Lindsey, Riley, and McKenna Gardner. Also surviving are many loving nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be conducted 11:00 AM Friday, April 12, 2013 at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

The family will see friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Wilmington Funeral Chapel.

Memorials may be directed to Oak Grove Presbyterian Church 3736 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington, NC 28412 or Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation 1406 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation, 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910.791.9099