Jul 12, 1927 - Jan 12, 2018
Robert John Durward (Bob) Gardner passed away peacefully January 12, 2018 at the age of 90.
He was predeceased by his loving wife of 64 years Erika Vaughan (White) Gardner. He was survived by his children Robert (Corlaine Davidson), Dawn, Kenneth (Yvonne Pedroso) and Marianne (Michael McKee), and six grandchildren, Christopher Williams, Heather Williams, Evan Gardner, Laurel Gardner, Kenneth Gardner Jr. and Tamara Gardner.
Bob was born in Edmonton and was raised in Lethbridge, Alberta. He attended UBC where he graduated as a mechanical engineer in 1952.
Bob and Vaughan were married in 1951 and settled in Lethbridge, Alberta, where they raised four children. During his 35 years of working career at the Lethbridge Iron Works, he also volunteered with the Civil Defence until the late1960's.
In 1989 Bob and Vaughan retired to Salmon Arm, where Bob belonged to the Shuswap Beekeepers' Association and was an active member of the Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society. Bob was a founding member of the Salmon Arm Citizens' Patrol and was an active member for over 20 years.
Bob is best known as an avid model railroader filling his basement with a sizeable railroad layout. He was key in promoting the hobby and skills, starting and recruiting new members for the Lethbridge Model Railroad Club, and later the Salmon Arm Model Railroad Club.
He enjoyed traveling with Vaughan to Australia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and more recently to the Bahamas and Scotland.
Bob lived his last three years at Lakeside Manor where he enjoyed taking part in Happy Hour, drumming circles and watching a pair of eagles from his living room window while listening to the hum of trains as they passed.
A Celebration of Life will take place May 19th at family home: 2181 9th Street S,E., Salmon Arm, B.C.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Salmon Arm SPCA.
Bob and his great sense of humour will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Please raise a "dram of Scotch" in his honour.
Arrangements are in the care of Bowers Funeral Home, Salmon Arm, BC.
Bowers Funeral Home