Ferdinand D. "Tubby" Gardner: Golden Gloves Boxer, Purple Heart Recipient

Ferdinand D. "Tubby" Gardner, age 100, formerly of Lakewood died Jan. 11.

He was born on Dec. 14, 1912 in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Avon Lake resident was raised in Lakewood, OH and graduated from Lakewood High School.

A successful Golden Gloves boxer, he was also a promising professional golfer and a paratrooper in the Army with the 101st Airborne Division where he was awarded a Purple Heart. He was known as the "Little Lieutenant" in the Army and was a coach of the United States Army boxing team while in Europe.

Ferd retired from the Internal Revenue Service after serving 45 years in the Cleveland, Lorain and Mansfield areas.

Survivors include his loving wife of 70 years, Fern Gardner (nee Smith); four children; Barbara Yencho (John), Susan Pentz (Jeff), Bruce (Robin), and Robert (Lynn); 11 grandchildren; Jennifer, Bryan, David, Jeremiah, Jonah, Brett, Brandon, Michelle, Melanie, Andrew, and Daniel; 11 great-grandchildren; J.T., Elizabeth, Olivia, Savannah, Camden, Breanna, Makenzie, Madison, Carter, Brady, and Miles. Preceded in death by parents; Julius and Olga Gardner (Dingerson); four sisters and three brothers; Lois Hofer, Marie Renner, Olga Louise Lang, infant sister Louise, Julius, Carl, and Albert Gardner.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Jan. 15, from 1-2 p.m. at the Busch Funeral Home, 32000 Detroit Road, Avon. The Rev. Darrell Deer of College Heights Baptist Church in Elyria will conduct a funeral service at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Resthaven Memory Garden, 3700 Center Road, Avon with military honors.

For more information or to send an online condolence visit www.buschfuneral.com.

Information courtesy of Busch Funeral Home.