Emma Jean Gardner

Emma Jean (Wilson) Gardner, 83, of Cambridge, loving and much-loved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, in Cambridge, Ohio. She was born December 31, 1929 at Patterson Heights, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, the youngest daughter to William Wade and Ella Mae (Scheiterlein) Wilson. She attended grade school in Patterson Heights, and junior and senior high school in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school in 1947, she was employed at Westinghouse in Beaver, Pennsylvania as a File Clerk. In late 1947, Emma Jean met Ernest Ralph Gardner. Emma Jean and Ernie were married on June 30, 1949 at the First Presbyterian Church in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. They lived in New Brighton before moving to Lisbon, Ohio in early 1951. Their three children: Ernest Ralph Jr., Jeffrey Wade, and Laurie Diane, were born in Lisbon. In 1959, the family moved to Wintersville, Ohio. While in Wintersville, Emma Jean served on the executive board of a local private kindergarten. She was a den mother for the Cub Scouts for several years and also a member of the Wintersville Junior Women's Club. The family moved to Cambridge, Ohio in 1965. In Cambridge, Emma Jean was active as a Red Cross volunteer at Guernsey Memorial Hospital, and managed the hospital gift shop. She was employed part time at J.C. Penny's and worked for many years in her local election polling place. Her interest in public service also led her to serve as an enumerator in the 1970, 1980, and 1990 federal censuses. Emma Jean was an active member of her church, Unity (formerly Westminster) Presbyterian, in Cambridge, holding the office of deacon. She participated in church Circles and Associations. She enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, meeting new people, and making new friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, John William Wilson; and two sisters, Sarah Priscilla McCain and Alice Louise Bonanni. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years, Ernest R. Gardner Sr.; two sons, Ernest R. "Skip" (& Vickie) Gardner of Cambridge and Jeffrey W. (& JoLee) Gardner of Jacksonville FL; a daughter, Laurie D. (& Jeff) Tucker of New Concord; five grandchildren, Amber Hamilton of New Concord, Curtis Figgins, of Stanhope NJ, Chad Gardner of Vienna WV, Jessica (& Nick) Daniels of Dover, and Rev. Hannah Tucker of Tiffin; and a great-granddaughter, Alexandria Hamilton. Family and friends may call on Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Thorn-Black Funeral Home, Cambridge, where funeral services will be held on Saturday (June 22, 2013) at 11 a.m. with Rev. Lynn Shetzer officiating. Entombment will be at the Northwood Cemetery Mausoleum, Cambridge. As an expression of sympathy, the family requests that memorial contributions in Emma Jean's name be made to the Alzheimer's Association, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011, or to Unity Presbyterian Church, 130 North 7th Street, Cambridge OH 43725.