John Thomas Gardner

John T Gardner of Burleson Texas, passed from this life on May 15, 2021. He was 92 years old. He was born December 6, 1928 to Elmer Eugene and Birdie Lee Gardner. Most of his early years were spent working with his dad and brothers on dairy operations in the Arlington and Irving Texas area. He grew up in a large family with his older sister and four younger brothers during the Depression. Tough times knit together a strong family rooted in Christian values and a whole lot of fun! “We didn’t know we were poor, we had all we wanted” he said.

While finishing school at Birdville High School in Fort Worth, He married the “Love of His Life”, Laura Laverne Walker, December 6, 1948. After spending time in the national Guard, he went to work for Southwestern Bell. He worked 35 years and retired at age fifty-five. After a few years of working around their home near Rendon, he returned to the workplace with the Tandy Corporation in Fort Worth in their Building Systems group. After 13 years with Tandy Corp., he retired again and spent the remainder of his years keeping their “Place” in beautiful shape. He loved gardening, planting trees, and airplanes. He loved everything about airplanes, particularly WWII era planes and loved to create models. He was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed fishing in the mountains of Colorado. He played the piano and organ solely by ear with no formal training. He also had a beautiful bass voice that he used often singing in the church choir and in ensembles. He was a lifelong member of Arlington Community Church. Most of all, he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was fiercely devoted to his wife, children, grand-children and great grandchildren. He will be remembered for his quiet strength of character, his laugh, his mischievous and joking demeanor and the stories he loved to tell. More than anything, he will be remembered for the grace, love and mercy he showed to all those he came in contact with throughout his life in an effort to show the love of Christ to everyone he met.

He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Birdie Gardner, sister Charlene Pendergrass, brothers Leroy, Wayne, Rodney, and Alvin Gardner, sister-in-law Claudine Gardner, and brother-in-law Monroe Pendergrass.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Laverne Gardner of Burleson, his son John and wife Pam of Lubbock, TX as well as his daughter Deanna and husband David Weaver of Milford, TX. Grandchildren - Kerri and Philip Pike of Lubbock, TX; John and Rachelle Gardner of El Progresso, Honduras; Bonnie and Daniel James of Pasadena, CA; Aaron and Sara Murray of Huntsville, TX. Great Grandchildren - Isabelle, Jasper and Kaitlyn Pike, Haylee, Jadyn, Kenzi, and Joshua Gardner, and Emily Gatlin. He is also survived by his brother, Vernie H. Gardner and his wife Rosie of Bedford, TX sister-in-laws Ozzie Gardner, Charlene Gardner, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.