Ralph Gardner Sr.

January 26, 2019

Ralph Gardner, Sr., 99, of Upper Pittsgrove passed away on January 26, 2019. Born in Camden and raised in Pennsauken, he was the son of the late William L. Gardner, Sr. and Isabel (Graves) Gardner. In 1935 his family moved to Elmer. Ralph attended Woodstown High School but spent his senior year and graduated in 1937 from Bridgeton High School. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945. During this time, on July 3, 1943, he married Dorothy Elizabeth "Betty" Moore. Over the years, Ralph worked as the owner of Gardner Brothers Inc. He was a member and former Elder and Trustee of Daretown Presbyterian Church. He also served as Explorer Post Advisor for Boy Scouts Post 160. Ralph enjoyed playing tennis and cards, especially Poker and Bridge and he loved to travel, going snorkeling and scuba diving. Ralph is survived by his children Virginia Moll (Rand), Ralph Gardner Jr. (Judy), Charlie Gardner (Alenda), Margie Mercado (Nick) and Bill Gardner III (Claudia Cogliser), 14 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 65 years Betty Gardner and his siblings Mary Green, Alice Boston, Bill Gardner Jr., Belle Gardner and Ruth Cardillo. Services will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the Daretown Presbyterian Church, 312 Daretown Road, Elmer, NJ 08318. There will be a visitation from 10 to 11 AM and the service at 11 AM. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ralph's memory to the Friends Home, 1 Friends Drive, Woodstown, NJ 08098 or to the Daretown Presbyterian Church.