Lucille Gardner

Lucille Gardner

Lucille V. “Cille” Gardner, 92, of Periwinkle Park, passed away on Aug. 10, 2011 at Shell Point Pavilion. She was born and raised in Wanatah in northwest Indiana with five siblings. After college, she began a career in a one-room schoolhouse in rural LaPorte County and taught first grade and kindergarten, mostly the latter, for 32 1/2 years.

She and her husband Bob and two sons settled in Walkerton, Ind., where he operated a farm equipment sales and service business. In the mid-1960s, the Walkerton Chamber of Commerce honored her as its Mother of the Year. She served on the board of directors of the local public library for two decades and she was a member of the Walkerton Tri Kappa service sorority.

She was a member of the Walkerton United Methodist Church and Sanibel Community Church, where she was involved with childrens’ programs. She maintained a passion for young people that was full of enthusiasm and great spirit.

She was also interested in local theater, serving as a long-time volunteer usher at the original Pirate Playhouse and Florida Repertory Theater.

She is survived by a son, Tim, of Fort Myers, and a sister, Eileen, of Valparaiso, Ind.

The family requests that her friends and acquaintances perform a small act of kindness for someone in need and/or make a contribution to childrens’ ministries at the church of one’s choice.