Ralph Gardner

Ralph W. Gardner, age 95, of Battle Creek, died Friday, January 27, 2017, at the Bronson at Home Hospice Residence, following a brief period of declining health. Ralph was born on April 8, 1921 in Wayne County, Ohio to the late Harvey and Alta (Miller) Gardner and graduated from Walnut Creek High School in 1939. After high school he worked as a linotype operator for a local newspaper, owned by his father. Ralph entered the Army in June of 1942 serving with the 9 ^th Air Force in Europe where he flew 65 bombing missions including the Normandy invasion and Rhineland after which he was sent to the China-Burma-India Theater with the Air Transport Command until the end of WWII. He was a radio operator and aerial gunner on the B-26 Marauders, “Superbaby.” While in training at Kellogg Field he met the love of his life, June M. Sargent. They were married on January 19, 1946 in Battle Creek and June died on November 16, 2001. Ralph entered into employment with the Battle Creek Enquirer and News in 1946 and retired from there in 1985. He was a typesetter in the composition department. He is survived by a sister, Ruth Schlabach of Walnut Creek, Ohio, niece Kathy (Larry) Rizor, nephew Gary (Roxanne) Sargent, locally, and many other nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Howard Gardner; and sisters, Esther Oetzel, Marie Abel, Margaret Lynn, Bessie Towles, Alice Hahn, and Miriam Antill. He enjoyed golf, reading and carpentry, and built his own home where he and his wife lived for many years. He volunteered 20 years with the Enquirer Credit Union, serving as president the last year. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 2, 2017 at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. James M. Gysel officiating. Interment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Memorials may be made to Battle Creek Community Foundation – Ralph Gardner. www.henryfuneralhome.org