Funeral services, celebrating his life, will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday , August 11, 2010, at Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm St. Chapel, with Pastors Sandra Myrick, Shawn Barrier, and Lois Eller officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery.

Born March 16, 1920, in Greensboro, to the late Jesse Boyd Gardner, Sr. and Callie Patterson Gardner, Mr. Gardner was a faithful member of Spirit and Truth International Church, where served as Head Elder. God first, Country, then family, would best describe Walter Gardner. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army. 67 years ago, Pvt. Gardner landed at Safi, French Morocco, with the 2nd Battalion, 540th Combat Engineer Regiment, U.S. Army. For the Safi landing, he was awarded a bronze "assault" arrowhead and the first of seven bronze battle stars. Mr. Gardner's World War II campaign history reads like a modern-day tourist brochure; Algeria-French Morocco, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. In five of these seven WWII campaigns, his combat engineers were there for D-Day, both numbers being quite remarkable. He was active in the American Legion Post 386. He was an avid reader and a collector. He served as a mail carrier for 50 years with the United States Postal Service. Walter was very much a family man who enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family. He, along with his buddies met at Bojangles daily for lunch. He was a humble and loyal man who was true to his word. You always knew where Walter was coming from and where he stood. He practiced what he preached and had a passion for all people, and their salvation. He had an unconditional love for his family, a great work ethic, and was a great provider for his family. In addition to his parents, Mr. Gardner was preceded in death by his two sisters and his three brothers.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Sybil Neal Gardner, who he loved passionately for 62 years; his children, Sandra Gardner Myrick and her husband Don, Neal Boyd Gardner and his wife Jina, and Candy Gardner Fields and her husband Ron, all of Greensboro; grandchildren, Joy Myrick Blair, Pam Myrick Barrier, Chip Myrick, Michael Fields, and Gabriel Fields; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Victoria, Ashley, William, Zachery, Madison, Jaxson, and Trevor; and a sister-in-law, Blanche M. Gardner of Greensboro, as well as, many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home and other times at the home of his daughter, Sandra's, 3705 W. Friendly Ave. in Greensboro.

Memorial contributions may be made to Spirit and Truth International Church 6011 Landmark Center Blvd., Greensboro, NC 27404.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful folks at Beacon Place for the care they extended to Walter and the support shown to his family.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.