1930-2019
John was born at home, April 2, 1930, in Marshall, Oklahoma. His parents were Hester {Howard} Gardner and P.B. Gardner, M.D. He had one sister, Erma Elizabeth (Betty) Gardner. John was predeceased by his parents and his sister. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Emily, and their four children: Debi Gardner and her partner, Debbie Hardway of Edmond, John S. Gardner of Edmond, Becky Roman and husband David of Guthrie, and Julie West and husband Greg of Hutchinson, KS. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Joshua Roman of New York City; Kate Gungor and husband David, and their four children, Evie, Harry, Bea, and Eddie of New York City; Nate Roman and his wife Michelle and their sons Benjamin and Matthias of St. Louis, MO; and Isaac Roman and his wife Rebekah of Nashville, TN; Kelsey West of Fort Collins, Colorado, Taylor West of Brooklyn, NY, and Travis West of Hutchinson, KS. John is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as one cousin, Joe Douthitt of Florida.
John attended first grade in Marshall, Oklahoma, followed by a move to Guthrie. He graduated from Guthrie High School with the class of 1948. He won his private pilot certificate at age 17, while a senior in high school. He attended OU from 1948 to 1950, and then enlisted in the US Air Force, with the hope of becoming a fighter pilot. That goal was not to be, and he spent four years in the service, most of that time teaching aircraft maintenance. While at OU, John had a blind date with a beautiful freshman named Emily Allen. They were married June 6, 1952, while John was still in the Air Force.
In the fall of 1954, the family returned to Oklahoma and John re-enrolled at OU. He completed his pre-med studies, and started medical school in August of 1955. He graduated with the M.D. degree in 1959. After three years of internship and residency, the family moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma, where John joined a group of physicians, and practiced family medicine as well as obstetrics and gynecology. During this period of time, he delivered over 3,000 babies into this world. In 1967, John became part of the inaugural group of the Shawnee Medical Center. In 1975, he returned to the Health Sciences Center at OU, and completed a four-year residency to become a board-certified diagnostic radiologist. He retired at age 70, after serving in various hospitals for 20 years as a radiologist. His last position prior to retiring was at the Health Sciences Center as a radiologist. He was a professor at the OU Medical School, and the chief of radiology at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. After retirement, John and Emily continued to live in Edmond, and moved to the Touchmark Retirement Community in 2008.
His funeral will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church, 8005 Dorset Dr, Nichols Hills, OK 73120, on Monday, June 24, 2019, at 10:00 am, followed by burial at the Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
I regretted reading about John’s death. We were born the same year and my birthday is July 3. We last visited while sitting in the waiting room at Dean McGee offices. We were sitting beside each other and making small talk when we suddenly realized that we were former neighbors. We didn’t look like we did 40 years ago.
You were great neighbors and we were lucky to have you help us get situated in Shawnee in 1967. In 1994 we built a new home at 10 E. Franklin Street, the next street north and on the east side of Broadway. It was where the Ford family lived when you lived in Shawnee.
We would love to visit with any of you who get to Shawnee. My wife, Pat, passed away in 2011. Susan is still single and lives with me. Scott lives in Arizona. Best wishes to you and to Emily. Tom Terry 273-7882 home phone.
Dear Emily,
I was sad to learn John had passed. He was a great man and a gentleman. I send to you my love and prayers.
Ron Dorris, former Clinton Regional CEO