FARMINGTON – Theodore C. “Ted” Gardner, 87, of East Dixfield, died early Saturday morning, Sept. 9, at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

He was born Jan. 13, 1919, in Presque Isle, the son of Lewis and Maud (Eastman) Gardner. He received his education at Bean’s Corner schools.

On April 17, 1959, he married Olive Stickney in Wilton.

He was employed at the Wilton Woolen Mill, GH Bass Shoe and Forster Mfg. He retired from Oxford Paper Co.

He was a former member of the Bean’s Corner Baptist Church.

In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, tinkering on cars, attending lawn sales and flea markets, rock hunting, collecting clocks, making and bottling root beer and crafting jewelry and birdhouses.

An animal lover, he enjoyed his cats and dog, Manny “Babe”.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Olive, of East Dixfield; one son, David Gardner and his wife, Lucille, of East Dixfield; two daughters, Linda Barker and her husband, Jerry, of Temple, and Susanne Stevens and her husband, Albert, of Dover, N.H.; one step-daughter, Lucille Coolidge, and her husband, Marvin, of Farmington; one brother, Lewis Gardner Jr. of Sanford, 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Althea Patten and Wilhelmina “Mina” Gurthers; a grandson, Mark Weeks; and a step-grandson, Curtis Knox.