Wellsville, NY - David F. Gardner, 84, of 11 Meadowbrook Court passed away on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at the Highland Health Care Center in Wellsville. He was born on August 24, 1926 in Buffalo, the son of the late Charles and Florence (Albee) Gardner. On April 25, 1953 in Wellsville he married the former Joan Embser who survives.
Dave was a graduate of Amherst High School and was a combat veteran of the US Navy during WW II and the Korean Conflict. He served aboard the USS St. Paul in the Pacific Theater of Operation and personally witnessed the formal surrender of the Japan at the end of the war. He was a graduate of Alfred State Agricultural and Technical College and Simons School of Embalming in Syracuse. He was first employed as a landscape contractor and owned operated Meadowbrook Nursery in Wellsville. He began his career as a funeral director with J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in 1960 and retired as president in 1993. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, a life member of the Emerald Hook and Ladder Company, a member of the American Legion Post 702, a 45 year member of the Wellsville Lions Club; where he received the Robert J. Uplinger Award for distinguished service and was a Melvin Jones Fellow. He served on the Citizens Tree Board and several other civic and business organizations. He enjoyed all aspects of horticulture and gardening, cross country skiing, sailing, cooking and bird watching and was a railroad enthusiast.
He is survived in addition to his wife by five sons, Charles (Penny) Gardner of Livonia, Timothy (Heidi) Gardner of Orchard Park, Daniel (Carol) Gardner of Wellsville, Walter (Lisa) Gardner of Wellsville and Brien Gardner of Victor, two daughters, Kate (Brooks) Chandler of Girdwood, AK and Anne (Fred) Collins of Corning, 19 grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased in addition to his parents by a brother, William Gardner.
Friends are invited to call on today from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Wednesday from 10:00 to 10:30 am at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State Street in Wellsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville with Monsignor Vincent Becker as celebrant. Interment, with military honors will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to any charity of the donor's choice. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.