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Born in Ft. Worth, TX on Feb. 16, 1918 and passed away peacefully at Brandel Manor on Dec. 14, 2008. George settled with his family in southern CA in 1930. In 1934 at the age of 16, both parents died leaving him along with a younger brother and sister. He joined the local National Guard. In 1936 George worked on tunnel construction for the aqueduct from the Colorado River to LA, then the railroad tunnels out of Redding, CA. In 1940, he was eligible for the draft and returned to Southern CA to re-enlist in his old outfit. The Guard was called to active duty in March 1941 for one year. Pearl Harbor changed everything. In 1943, as a platoon Sgt., he went to Office Candidate School. He graduated from Ft. Benning Infantry School and was appointed a 2nd Lt. and assigned to a division in North Texas. He was sent for over seas duty arriving in England a few weeks before D Day in 1944. Landing on Omaha Beach D plus 3 and assigned as a Platoon Leader with the 1st Infantry Division. Sept. 1944 he was wounded 100 years inside of Germany. Evacuated to a hospital in Cardiff, Wales then returned to the front in March of 1945. He crossed the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine River and was wounded again. He was placed on limited duty and ended the war as a troop movement office outside of Paris. Released from the Army in Dec. 1945, George settled in Oakland, CA and began building houses. Here he met Anita and they married in Oct. 1948. They moved to Turlock in 1949. George again was involved with the location National Guard and was appointed commander of the Turlock Company and later the full time Staff Administrator of the battalion in this area. In 1965, he retired as Lt. Colonel and went to work for the Turlock Post Office. He worked 16 years, retiring again in 1981. George and Anita traveled full time for 4-years across the US and Canada. Eventually settling down to their home in Turlock for the summer and Arizona for the winter. George has been very active with the Masonic Lodge No. 395 serving as Master in 1983 in addition to being Chaplain and Candidate Coach for many years. He was active with the Order of the Eastern Star Wisteria Chapter No. 296 serving as Worthy Patron in 1969, 1973, and 1985. He also belonged to the American Legion Post 88, Sons in Retirement and a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church. George is preceded in death by his loving wife, Anita; brother Clarence and sister Edna Pearl. He is survived by his children Melvin and Nancy Gardner; Wayne and Nina (Gardner) Ratliff, grandchildren Chris and Jill (Gardner) GeRue, Lisa Gardner, Andrew Ratliff and Michael and Erika Ratliff.

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George W. Gardner

February 16, 1918 - December 14, 2008