1927 – 2016

NORWAY — Ralph Roland Gardner, 89, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Norway Center for Health and Rehabilitation.

Ralph was born Oct. 17, 1927, in South Waterford to Mary Hamlin Gardner and Horace Gardner.

Ralph was a graduate of Bridgton Academy. He worked as a young man for the Oxford Pickle Co. He also drove truck for Charles L. Thomes. Ralph was involved in the CLT Co. for 62 years. He also worked for AC Lawrence Co. for a number of years. He worked as head custodian at the Harrison Elementary School until he retired. He was known as the “Candy Man” by parents and children alike as he always had a pocket full of hard candy to hand out. Ralph was also a caretaker of the town-owned cemeteries for several years.

Ralph faithfully served his country in the U.S. Army. He received an honorable discharge. He was a member of the Bear Mountain Grange in South Waterford for 71 years and a member of Crooked River Masonic Lodge in Bolsters Mills for 56 years. He loved his family. He also loved his steer and oxen in his earlier years. Ralph was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and gardening. Ralph bowled at Hobb’s Lanes in South Paris. He loved dancing at the South Paris American Legion.

He is survived by his son, Edwin L. Gardner and his wife, Opal; his grandchildren, Jeremy Baker, Jason Baker and his wife, Emily, Nathan Gardner, and Becky Laperle and her husband, Andrew; and great-grandchildren Aiden, Mariah and Ryder. Ralph loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Allison Baker, in 1990; and his wife, Helen Gardner, in 1999; his brothers, Howard Gardner, Loren Gardner and Edwin M. Gardner; his sisters, Annie Gardner and Agnes and her husband, Paul Howe.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.

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