Robert Louis Gardner Jr.

Bob will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Margaret (Mike) and his children, Deanna Doherty and Rob. Bob will also be fondly remembered by his two grandsons, Colin and Dylan, by his brothers Stephen (Brenda), Drew (Carol), and Dan, by his brother-in-law Arthur Stout, and by his sisters-in-law Mary Burns and Sherrie Long, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Shelley Gardner, his father, Robert Louis Gardner, and his mother Edna Hope Gardner.

Bob was born on September 28, 1943. He grew up as an Army dependent and lived in Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Tokyo, Japan, Fountainebleau, France; and several times in Fort Lee, Virginia. He also resided with his mother and paternal grandparents several times while his father was stationed overseas in combat. Fort Lee, Virginia is where he met Mike Long whose father was also stationed there. He and Mike were married on March 3, 1965 and began their loving family on February 21, 1966 with the birth of their first daughter, Shelley. They remained best friends through many struggles including the death of their first daughter in 1984. Their love never faltered. He was a loving, giving, and attentive father and husband. In his final years as his health began failing, Mike provided unfaltering love, care, and friendship to her beloved husband; he called her his angel.

Bob began his career as a self-taught auto-mechanic. Through hard work, determination, and the support of a loving wife, he owned and operated several different service stations. He also had 2 successful construction companies. When his children were young, Bob continued his passion for racing cars. He was a pro stock driver in the NHRA, with his team-partner Bill Crawford. They qualified for and raced in national NHRA events. As his children and his passion for them grew, his favorite hobby became coaching them in their sporting endeavors-soccer, baseball, basketball, and football. He and his son took classes in scuba diving and went on trips to enjoy this hobby together. When his children outgrew their youth and sports, Bob continued to coach and inspire other people’s children in basketball, softball, and football. He loved all children as if they were his own. He was the number one supporter of his wife’s love of coaching youth soccer and was an active participant in all of the team’s events. In later years, he developed a passion for billiards and was active in two leagues.

Bob was a dedicated loving husband and father. He always protected and provided for all of his family’s needs. He was always a kind, honest, fair and generous man who never took as much as he gave. He was a friend to everyone he met. His life was the definition of well-lived. His legacy is one too rich to describe in words. He will forever and lovingly be remembered by every life he touched.

The family will receive friends and family at Demaine Funeral Home in Springfield, VA on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 5 – 8 pm. A Celebration of Bob's life will be held at Demaine Funeral Home on Thursday November 29, 2018 at 11 am with interment to follow at Fairfax Memorial Cemetery on Braddock Road in Fairfax, Virginia.