William Hardwick Gardner

A native Californian, Bill lived in Carlsbad since 1950. He passed away at home on April 7 with his daughters present.

Bill’s family lived in the Long Beach/San Pedro area and he graduated from San Pedro High. He received his degree from Whittier College, majoring in Chemistry, and excelled as a track star including winning the prestigious Southern California Relays. He joined the Navy in 1943, training in Chicago. He served with distinction as a navigator aboard the USS Rigel.

While training in Chicago, he met the love of his life and future wife, Donnadelle, an Iowa girl. They married in 1945 and enjoyed 62 wonderful years together.

Bill worked as a chemist and then moved into education, starting as a teacher at the Horne Street School in Oceanside where Joe Shepley was the principal. While teaching math and science, Bill received his Master’s degree in Education from San Diego State College. Possibly more important, he and Joe started the first athletic program for 7th and 8th grade boys in the district. Bill had never played football or basketball, but he coached both sports and the first 4 years the football team went undefeated.

To explore his creative side, he took ceramics classes at Mira Costa College and became a skilled potter. He was particularly interested in glaze formulation due to his background in chemistry. Bill displayed and sold his pottery throughout Southern California.

As accomplished swing dancers, Bill and Donna branched out to learn many dance styles including country western line dancing. They also took up tennis and were proud founding members of the Four Set Tennis group.

When he retired at the age of 58, he and Donna traveled the west by travel trailer, and the world by cruise ship.

In a nod to Bill’s California heritage, we will be in California Casual mode at the Memorial Service to celebrate his life on Monday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m. at Eternal Hills Chapel in Oceanside, CA.

In lieu of flowers, Bill requested memorial donations to Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California 5675 Telegraph Road, Suite 230, Los Angeles CA 90040 or the charity of your choice.