Henry Lee Gardner, Jr

Mr. Henry Lee Gardner, Jr., 87, of Mount Airy, passed away Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. Mr. Gardner was born December 5, 1923, in Surry County, to Henry Lee and Naomi Ruth Johnson Gardner. Mr. Gardner served his country in the United States Army during World War II and during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the 29th Infantry Division and spent twenty-eight months in the European Theater, serving in England and in the following campaigns, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Mr. Gardner was a rifleman. In addition to various citations and medals, Henry was awarded four bronze service stars. He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2019. He served as commander and a member of the Honor Guard. Mr. Gardner was retired from North Carolina Department of Transportation. Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Dr. David Nickola of Punta Gorda, FL; a daughter-in-law, Pat T. Gardner of Mount Airy; grandchildren, Dr. Bryan C. Quick and his wife, Tiffany, of Port Charlotte, FL, David L. Gardner and his wife, Adrienne, of Mount Airy, and Leanne T. Gardner of Mount Airy; step-grandchildren, Damon Nickola and Janice Nickola, both of Boulder, CO; and two great-grandchildren, Caroline Jane and Walter Houston Quick of Port Charlotte, FL. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gardner was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Virginia Nellie Jackson Gardner; a daughter, Pamela Jean Gardner; a son, David Lee Gardner; two sisters, Vivian Gardner Patterson and Addie Ruth Gardner Bass; and a brother, James Lawrence Gardner. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, May 23, 2011, at Oakdale Cemetery, with the Rev. Richard Loman officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the VFW Memorial Honor Guard. There will not be a formal visitation at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Mount Airy Wesleyan Church, 2063 South Main Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030; Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030; or a charity of the donor's choice.