William R. Gardner

Weslaco- William R. (Bill) Gardner, age 87 went to our Lord on January 6, 2014.
Born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Gardner entered the Army Air Force in 1944 with three years of machine shop experience at the age of 17. He trained at Airplane & Mechanic School-Keesler Field, Mississippi and Aerial Gunnery School-Harlingen, Texas and achieved the occupational specialty of Crew Chief (Aerial Engineer). Honorably Discharged in 1949 with the following honors: Bronze Battle Star for Germany campaign; Air Medal; Campaign Ribbon; WWII Victory Medal; and the American Theater Medal.
The GI Bill provided for Gardner, a high school dropout, an education at Texas A& I University, Kingsville where he earned a Bachelors Degree of Industrial Arts, Teaching Certificate and Master’s of Education. There he met his wife Betty Jane Coil.
Gardner moved his young family to Alice, Texas in 1953 and was employed by Alice ISD for 32 years as a shop teacher and administrator. During the late 50’s through the early 70’s, the family owned and operated a summer business called the Ole’ Swimmin’ Hole and taught many in Alice to swim. They attended the Episcopal Church of the Advent.
Most of the furniture the family used was hand made by Gardner. Constructing two Hush Guppy sailboats, he taught his children to sail on Mathis Lake at the 'Alice Yacht Club'. He was a professional photographer, did leather work and overall excellent craftsman. Other memorable family activities were travel, camping, and hunting.
Retiring to Weslaco, Texas in 1995, he served the Lord faithfully at Grace Episcopal Church. His major accomplishments of retirement were: activity with the Experimental Aircraft Association; the re-construction and test piloting of a wrecked Cessna and the construction (from scratch) and testing of a Thorp T18.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years Betty, Weslaco, TX; four offspring, Linda Gardner (Carlson), Edinburg, TX; William Kim (Bill) Gardner, Corpus Christi, TX; Kevin Gardner, Clear Water, FL; and Laura Cyr, Tulsa, OK; and 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
The Gardner Family wishes to thank the following for their excellent care and support: Leticia Volpe, M.D., Rev. Richard Speer, IMS Home Health Care, Knapp Medical Center and Odyssey Hospice.
A memorial service celebrating Gardner's life will be held February 1, 2014, 10:30 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 701 S. Missouri in Weslaco. He especially supported formative church camp experiences for youth. In lieu of flowers, please consider the Camp Scholarship Fund at Grace Episcopal Church, or organization of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of McCaleb Funeral Home of Weslaco.