Thomas Meldon Gardner, Sr.

Thomas Meldon Gardner, Sr., age 95, of Freeport, Florida, passed away March 18, 2025. He was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, June 17, 1929, to the late Virgil and Mildred Gardner. Thomas moved with his family to Mogadore, Ohio, as a young boy. After graduation from Mogadore High School, he proudly served in the United States Army as a military policeman stationed in Berlin, Germany, just after World War II, where he assisted in the Berlin Airlift. Upon returning to Ohio after his discharge, he became a master pipefitter plumber and was a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 219 for seventy-one years. He married the love of his life, Nancy Mae Gardner, in 1951 and they were married for 61 years until her passing in 2012. Over the years the couple moved 13 times before settling in into an old farmhouse on 101 acres in Newcomerstown, OH. Together, Thomas and Nancy transformed the farmhouse into a storybook home, one that became the backdrop for countless cherished memories. They later settled in the Florida Panhandle. Thomas was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Often referred to as “MacGyver,” Thomas had an ingenious ability to repair and craft things with whatever materials were at hand. He had a passion for fishing and was an avid collector of lures and reels. He cherished the time spent with his family, creating many precious memories that will be held dear by all who knew him. His resilience, dedication, and longevity were a testament to his remarkable spirit.

Thomas is preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Nancy Mae Gardner; son, Timothy Gardner (who he lost at age five to leukemia in 1959); brother, Roger (Lida) Gardner; and sisters, Darlene (Ed) Selders, Ruth Fowler, and Evelyn (Dick) Byerley.

He is survived by three children, Deborah Peeper, Laura Long, and Thomas Gardner Jr.; four grandchildren, Christy (Scot) Norris, Andrea (Sean) Pounds, Amy (Travis) Stilgenbauer, and Jennifer (Nathan) McGee; nine great grandchildren, Trinity Norris, Arianna Norris, Jacob Pounds, Wyatt Pounds, Sean Pounds, Taylor Schlupp, Hallie Price, Kylee Fansler, and Allen Stilgenbauer; five great-great grandchildren,  Amelia Price, Lillian Price, Roman Price, Carter Matthus, and Avery Matthus; and one sister, Beverly (Joseph) Ackley.

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Watkins of DeFuniak Springs.