Services: 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. Local arrangements are under the direction of Cantlon Otterness Funeral Home of Buffalo. Burial in Muncie Chapel Cemetery, Wheaton.
Pastor Paul Gardner officiated. Memorials may be made to Buffalo Prairie Care Center nursing staff in Buffalo. Online condolences can be made at fohnfuneralhome.com or cantlonotterness.com.
Robert Harold Gardner, 88, Halfway, was born Nov. 21, 1925, in Seligman, the son of Gaylord Jerome and Marie Jane (Oziah) Gardner. He died July 30, 2014, at Buffalo Prairie Care Center, Buffalo.
He was reared and received his education from a number of country schools in Iowa, and graduated from eighth grade at Morning Star near Bedford, Iowa.
He lived in Iowa while traveling the country extensively doing what he loved: shearing sheep, harvesting wheat and being the liked and well-respected pipeline foreman he was for Local 234 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Work was his life, and what he enjoyed most was working closely with his son, brothers, Jim and Everett, and other family members. He had numerous genuine friends he made throughout his pipeline profession. After retirement he moved to Bolivar, then in 1978 he moved to Halfway.
He was a member of Church of Christ and was baptized by Bro. Jack Duncan in the late 1950s.
He enjoyed farming, raising sheep, cows and buffalo, was an avid coon hunter, and loved to cut wood and work outdoors.
He was united in marriage with Melba Barth McDaniel on March 21, 1947.
He married Phyllis Mae Honea in 1971.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis; two brothers: James Gardner and Donald Gardner; and one sister, Berniece Woodall.
Survivors include one son, Russell Leroy and wife, Debbie Gardner, Newkirk, Okla.; two daughters: Wyelene Elaine and husband, Dale Herrington, Bates City, and Marvelle Marlene Gibson-Plym and husband, Doug, Lees Summit; two brothers: Clarence and wife, Penny Gardner, Yelm, Wash., and Everett and wife, Carol Gardner, Wyandotte, Okla.; three sisters: Opal and husband, Marvin Barth, Lamoni, Iowa, Doris and husband, Marvin Geeding, Nowata, Okla., and Lois Gardner, Oklahoma City, Okla.; four grandchildren: Kimberly Jaynes, Jason and Caramarie Gibson; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
