Obituary - Barbara Jean Gardner

Barbara Jean Gardner, 92, passed away on November 10, 2024, at Commonwealth Senior Living in Front Royal, Virginia.

Barbara was born on August 15, 1932, in Syracuse, New York.

Barbara graduated from North High School in Syracuse in 1950. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University School of Speech and Dramatic Art in 1955 while working full-time to support herself and pay for her education, at a time when scholarships were not commonplace. She was very proud of this accomplishment, and what an accomplishment it was!

She married the love of her life Norman C. Gardner on April 18, 1959, in Liverpool, NY, and they celebrated 42 years of marriage before his death in 2001. They had three children: Tom Gardner of Richmond, Pam Dyke (Sonny) of Front Royal, and Sandra Gardner (Michael Peters) of Oneonta, NY. Barbara was a loving stepmother to Norman's daughters Dorothy Gardner of Owings Mills, MD, and Norma Gardner (Don McRorie) of Winchester, VA (previously Whitman, MA).

In addition to her children, Barbara is survived by her grandchildren Ryan Dyke (Chelsea) of Winchester, Natalie Dyke of Charlottesville, Noelle Peters of Oneonta, Chris Carswell of Owings Mills, Keith Carswell (Lisa) of Pikesville, MD, Jeff Carswell of Washington, DC, Andrew McRorie of Westminster, CA, and Tim McRorie (Aya) of Tokyo, Japan, and great-grandchildren Jade Carswell of Baltimore, MD, Justin Carswell of Towson, MD, and Kenji and Emma McRorie of Tokyo. She is predeceased by grandchildren Annie Beckwith and Nancy Beckwith of Cortland, NY, brother Howard Murdock of North Syracuse, stepdaughter Bettie Gardner of Ithaca, NY, and beloved aunt and uncle Lena and Jim Conn of Englewood, FL.

Barbara worked full-time up to the age of 82, with her last position being the business manager for On Hold Marketing in Richmond, a job she loved, with people she adored!

Barbara had a passion for music and singing, and it was a major part of her life which brought her endless joy. She loved her time singing with the chapel choir at Lakeside United Methodist Church as well as the Henrico Pops. She was a devoted cat mom to her beloved Ginger.

On behalf of Barbara, her family would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to the wonderful, loving, and caring staff at Commonwealth Senior Living in Front Royal, where we all became family. We would also like to thank the staff of Blue Ridge Hospice and Gentiva Hospice for the kind, compassionate, skilled, and devoted care. You all gave her the best quality of life possible, and so much love over the last three years.

Visitation will be held at Bliley's Funeral Home on Staples Mill Avenue in Richmond on Friday, November 15 from 4-7 PM. The funeral service will be held at Westhampton Memorial and Cremation Park, 10000 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, VA on Saturday, November 16, at 10:00 AM in the Mausoleum Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lakeside United Methodist Church music program, or the Henrico Humane Society.