Dwight Gardner

Dwight Edward Gardner, 90, of Van Wert, formerly of Convoy, Ohio, died at 4:45 a.m. Sunday, May 14, 2017, at Vancrest Nursing Home in Van Wert. He was born March 22, 1927, in Van Wert County, Ohio, to Estella (Wolf) Gardner and Ed Gardner. His parents are deceased.

His wife, Joan J. (Shook) Gardner, survives of Van Wert.

Other survivors include his children, Connie (Bob) Brinton of Manheim, Pennsylvania, Ron Gardner of Dublin, Ohio, Dennis (Patti) Gardner of Sylvania, Ohio, Marlene (Gary) Martz of Van Wert, and stepchildren, Jay (Phyllis) Stephenson of Scott, Ohio, David (Sherry) Stephenson of Monroeville, Indiana. He is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, stepgrandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren, and stepnieces and nephews.

Five sisters, Lena Shearer, Inas Mace, Esther Warner, Marian Gardner and Joyce Rosendahl, preceded him in death.

He was raised on the family farm, becoming an F.F. A. State Farmer in 1945. He was a former Ohio Soybean Association President. Dwight was very active with Van Wert County Farm Bureau and he and Joan were associated with ATI Agriculture Technical Institute of Wooster, Ohio. A total of 17 Ag students came to live and spend their three-month internship with Dwight and Joan on the farm in the spring and fall. He was also part of the team that was responsible for bringing telephone service to the Convoy, Ohio area. Dwight retired as a school bus driver from Thomas Edison in Van Wert.

Service will begin at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory, Van Wert. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery, Middle Point, Ohio.

Visitation is 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to State of the Heart Hospice.