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GARDNER Warren Fenn Bodurtha
Birth: 20 Jan 1909 Meriden, Conn.
Death: 23 Feb 2003 Mount Horeb, Dane Co., Wis.
Cause of Death: pneumonia
Burial: Walnut Grove Cemetery, Meriden, Conn.
Notes
Herrmann-Bjorkman tree on ancestry
findagrave
MOUNT HOREB/MERIDEN, CT. - Warren Fenn Bodurtha Gardner died of pneumonia
and the effects of Parkinson's disease at the Ingleside Nursing Home, Mount Horeb, in
the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003, surrounded by his daughter and two
of his grandsons. Four of his grandchildren shared their favorite memories and read
poetry and passages from Shakespeare in the hours leading to his passing. He was
born Jan. 20, 1909, at his home in Meriden, Ct., to Mildred Fenn Bodurtha Gardner
and Byron Robert Gardner. His mother Mildred died of post-partum measles three
weeks later, and he was raised by his father, two loving grandmothers, Carrie Fenn
Bodurtha and Millanie Virginia Pratt Gardner, his devoted aunt, Ruth Gardner Styring,
and later by a caring stepmother, Agnes Auger Gardner. Warren Gardner graduated
from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., in 1932, and worked as a reporter for
the Watertown Times, the Dairy Farmers Union, and the Troy Record in New York
state, before returning to his home town paper, the Meriden Morning Record. He
retired as editor in 1979, but as editor emeritus continued writing a twice-weekly
column "Of All Things" until macular degeneration deprived him of his eyesight. The
column drew on his considerable knowledge of Meriden and Connecticut history and
his interest in the natural world. Mr. Gardner was predeceased by the aforementioned
parents and grandparents; and by three wives, Eva Phillips Gardner (mother of sons
David and Robert), Barbara Ashcroft Irish Gardner (who died nine days after the birth
of daughter Meg) and Julia Challis Gardner, who died in 2001. Following her death, he
moved to Ingleside to be near his daughter, Meg Skinner. He leaves his sons, David
F. (Alice) Gardner of Beverly, Mass., and Robert W. (Karen) Gardner of Newtown, Ct.;
and daughter, Margaret G. (A. Neil) Skinner of Madison. He further leaves six
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: grandsons, Christopher (Kathy) Gardner of
Newtown, Ct., Dr. Timothy (Jo Ellen) Gardner of Hanover, N.H., Andrew (Dr. Allison)
Gardner of Boston, Mass., and E. Benjamin Skinner of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and
granddaughters, Sarah Gardner Cavanaugh of North Attleboro, Mass., and Sarah
Diane (fiance Craig Bettez) Gardner of Manchester, N.H. He further leaves two great-
grandsons, Andrew Scott Gardner of Newtown, Ct., and Matthew Robert Gardner of
Enfield, N.H. He also leaves a brother, Norman Gardner of Clinton, N.Y. At his
request, his body was donated to the UW-Madison Anatomy Department Body Donor
Program. His ashes will ultimately be interred in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in
Meriden, Ct., among his Yankee ancestors, Gardners, Pratts, Fenns and Bodurthas.
The family is grateful for loving care provided by the staff of Ingleside during his last
22 months. Memorial contributions can be made to Ingleside Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center, 407 N. Eighth St., Mount Horeb, WI 53572, for their staff
appreciation fund or St. Lawrence University, attention Greg Griffin, Alumni and Parent
Programs, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY 13617. A memorial celebration of his life will
be held Sunday, March 9, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the rotunda of the AUGUSTA CURTIS
CULTURAL CENTER, 175 E. Main St., Meriden, Ct.
[I think brother is half brother as he is not on 1910 census and his father remarried, so
Norman is not son of Mildred, yes, per 1930 census Norman b 1917]
1910 in Meriden, Conn.
Me Marr Idx on ancestry
Parents
GARDNER Byron Robert (23 Oct 1879 - 22 Feb 1954)
BODURTHA Mildred Louise Fenn (20 Jul 1879 - 14 Feb 1909)
Siblings
GARDNER Warren Fenn Bodurtha (20 Jan 1909 - 23 Feb 2003)
Marriage To PHILLIPS Eva ()
m.
Notes
Children by PHILLIPS Eva
GARDNER David Fenn ()
GARDNER Robert W. ()
Marriage To IRISH Barbara Ashcroft (23 Jul 1909 - 13 Nov 1946)
m. 8 May 1945
Notes
Children by IRISH Barbara Ashcroft 23 Jul 1909 - 13 Nov 1946
GARDNER Margaret N. ("Meg") ()
Marriage To CHALLIS Julia (15 May 1910 - 7 Mar 2001)
m. 6 Aug 1949 Me.
Notes
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