SOUTH PARIS – Charles Loren Gardner, 90, of Norway died Monday, May 5, at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

He was born in South Waterford on Aug. 3, 1917, the son of Horace Merle Gardner and Mary Hamlin Gardner. He attended Waterford schools and graduated from Bridgton Academy in 1935.

He served in the U.S. Army, 38th Squadron during World War II from 1942 to 1945, where he was an airplane mechanic, stationed first at Naples and Rome and then stateside at Keesler Field, Mississippi.

After the service, he was employed at Paris Manufacturing. He went on to work at Norway High School in 1948, and later at Guy E. Rowe school as a custodian. He also served as a crossing guard. He worked for the school department for more than 30 years. He loved the little kids, they called him Grampa.

He married Alma Dunn on Oct. 24, 1947. She passed away on Sept. 6, 2000. He enjoyed reading and working in his gardens, his rhubarb patch and high bush blueberries. He belonged to the Norway Grange. He and his wife raised foster children for many years.

He is survived by his daughters, Ella Whitman and husband, William, of Norway and Mary “Patty” Smith of Jacksonville, Fla.; six grandchildren, Janet Harriman and husband, Scott, Joline Hayward and husband, Randy, Jeffrey Whitman and wife, Lisa, and Larry, Gene and Eddie Smith; four great-grandchildren, Darren Whitman, Brendan Whitman, Shayla Harriman and Breya Whitman; and a brother, Ralph Gardner.

He was predeceased by brothers, Edwin and Howard; and sisters, Agnes Howe, Annie Gardner and Mary Gardner.