Published in the December 28, 2015 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Gardner H. Lord, 87, of Wakefield died Dec. 23 at the E.N. Rogers Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford.
He was born in Cambridge on Sept. 25, 1928, and was the son of the late Ernest and Marion (Fowler) Lord.
Gardner was raised in Chelsea and was a graduate of Chelsea High School, Class of 1946. After high school, he went on to graduate from Bentley College in 1952. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and served on the USS Salerno Bay.
He was a member of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company, The American Legion Post of Middleton and was a past Post Commander at Wenham and Manchester American Legion Posts. Gardner was a current member at Bear Hill Golf Club and was a past member at The Thompson Country Club. He was also a member at the Ocean Park Association in Ocean Park, Maine.
Gardner was the beloved husband of Bernice M. (White) Gates-Lord. He was the stepfather of Christine Gates of Wakefield, John Gates of Haverhill, David Gates and Jennifer Fries, both of New Hampshire. Gardner was the brother of the late Ernest Lord Jr., Eleanor Edwards and Priscilla Kilroe. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
His funeral service will be held in the First Baptist Church, 8 Lafayette St., Wakefield, on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Interment will be at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
