Obit of Gardner, Wayne (g635) - Comanche County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 18 Aug 2004 Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== WAYNE GARDNER Published on November 21, 1998 The Santa Rosa Press Democrat There wasn't much that could keep "Red" Gardner from driving his latest hot rod in Calistoga's annual Fourth of July parade. Even this year, after suffering a stroke in late June, he tooled down Lincoln Avenue in his bright red 1968 Chevy Camaro on parade day, just like he's been doing every year since 1972. "His birthday's July 3, and the parade was a very big deal for him," said Kerri Abreu, his friend and neighbor. "He was going to be in it come hell or high water." But the stroke finally proved to be too much for Gardner. He died Nov. 10 at a Santa Rosa convalescent hospital. He was 69. Born Wayne Phil Gardner in Lawton, Okla., he came to Calistoga as a boy and attended Calistoga High School. He remained active in the Class of '48, attending its annual reunion, and also was an active member of the Wildcat Boosters Club. He joined the Marine Corps after graduation and served in Korea, where his buddies dubbed him "Red" for the color of his hair. After the war, he worked for many years as a supervisor in a General Motors assembly plant in Southern California. He retired and returned to Calistoga in 1972. He collected, restored and sold cars, ranging from the Camaro of this year's parade to a '39 Ford and a '64 Porsche, Abreu said. "He was always tinkering on some hot rod," she said. He also played tennis nearly every day at Calistoga's municipal courts, and encouraged young people to get involved in sports. He helped put on an annual wheelchair tennis tournament. He is survived by his wife, June Gardner of Calistoga; a daughter, Pamela Williams of Northridge; a brother, Gene Gardner of Oregon; and three grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at the Butler Pavilion at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga. Contributions may be made to the Calistoga Recreation Department, 1232 Washington St., or to the Calistoga Wildcat Boosters, P.O. Box 791, Calistoga 94515. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html