Individual

Go to List of Family Names Go to List of People < Previous Next >

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
Produced by Fzip 1.7 2/10/2021