Belton H. Gardner
December 18, 1931 ~ April 1, 2008
Mr. Belton H. Gardner, aviator, business owner, electrical engineer, marketing & business developement executive, & beloved husband, father, son, brother, & friend, died of cancer at the age of 76 on April 1, 2008.
Mr. Gardner enlisted withe the US Air Force at the young age of 15 in 1946 & served as corpsman & medic. He met & wed his wife, the former Rita Reinhard of Fort Recovery, Ohio on May 5, 1951.
Mr. Gardner earned his electrical engineering degree & worked for McDonnell Aircraft Company in St. Louis, Missouri starting in 1957 where he earned several awards in his field for microwave technology. He then worked & retired with Electrospace Systems, Inc. (ESI) Corporation of Dallas, Texas as a Vice President in Marketing, managing their offices in Crystal City, Virginia from 1974-1983.
Mr. Gardner took on a new career in General Aviation, becoming the owner of Dulles Aviation, Inc., a fixed base operation, which he has operated with his beloved wife & two of his sons for 25 years until his death. Mr. Gardner was an avid pilot & bought Dulles Aviation (then located at Dulles Airport) in 1983, to teach others to fly. He consolidated the business to Manassas Regional Airport in 1985.
Mr. Gardner is survived by his loving wife, Irene; six children, Mary Pauley of Cincinnati, Ohio, Donald Gardner of El Segundo, California, Jon Gardner of El Paso, Illinois, Thomas Gardner of Nokesville, Virginia, Robert Gardner of Round Hill, Virginia, & Joseph Gardner of Bristow, Virginia; 13 grandchildren; four brothers, Rodney Gardner of St. Louis, Missouri, Philip Gardner of Shreveport, Louisiana, Onan Gardner of Wineola, Texas, & the late Norman Gardner of Colorado Springs, Colorado; & many nieces & nephews. He was the son of the late Benjamin Hill & Norma Gardner of Slidell, Louisiana.
The family welcomes guests on Sunday, April 6, 2008 at Money & King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA 22180 from 2-5 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 11am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd., Reston, VA 20191. Burial immediately follows at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Rd., Fairax, VA 22032. A "Celebration of Life" will be held on April 27, 2008 from 2-6pm at Dulles Aviation, Inc., Manassas Regional Airport, 10501 Observation Rd., Manassas, VA 20110 (703-361-2171). In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial donations in Mr. Gardner's name to the Capital Hospice, www.capitalhospice.org, or to the Life With Cancer, www.cancer.org
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Mr. Gardner enlisted withe the US Air Force at the young age of 15 in 1946 & served as corpsman & medic. He met & wed his wife, the former Rita Reinhard of Fort Recovery, Ohio on May 5, 1951.
Mr. Gardner earned his electrical engineering degree & worked for McDonnell Aircraft Company in St. Louis, Missouri starting in 1957 where he earned several awards in his field for microwave technology. He then worked & retired with Electrospace Systems, Inc. (ESI) Corporation of Dallas, Texas as a Vice President in Marketing, managing their offices in Crystal City, Virginia from 1974-1983.
Mr. Gardner took on a new career in General Aviation, becoming the owner of Dulles Aviation, Inc., a fixed base operation, which he has operated with his beloved wife & two of his sons for 25 years until his death. Mr. Gardner was an avid pilot & bought Dulles Aviation (then located at Dulles Airport) in 1983, to teach others to fly. He consolidated the business to Manassas Regional Airport in 1985.
Mr. Gardner is survived by his loving wife, Irene; six children, Mary Pauley of Cincinnati, Ohio, Donald Gardner of El Segundo, California, Jon Gardner of El Paso, Illinois, Thomas Gardner of Nokesville, Virginia, Robert Gardner of Round Hill, Virginia, & Joseph Gardner of Bristow, Virginia; 13 grandchildren; four brothers, Rodney Gardner of St. Louis, Missouri, Philip Gardner of Shreveport, Louisiana, Onan Gardner of Wineola, Texas, & the late Norman Gardner of Colorado Springs, Colorado; & many nieces & nephews. He was the son of the late Benjamin Hill & Norma Gardner of Slidell, Louisiana.
The family welcomes guests on Sunday, April 6, 2008 at Money & King Funeral Home, 171 W. Maple Ave., Vienna, VA 22180 from 2-5 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 11am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd., Reston, VA 20191. Burial immediately follows at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Rd., Fairax, VA 22032. A "Celebration of Life" will be held on April 27, 2008 from 2-6pm at Dulles Aviation, Inc., Manassas Regional Airport, 10501 Observation Rd., Manassas, VA 20110 (703-361-2171). In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial donations in Mr. Gardner's name to the Capital Hospice, www.capitalhospice.org, or to the Life With Cancer, www.cancer.org
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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My father was a wonderful man, who cared for his friends and family. He was a great father for all of us, stern at times, but warm always. His legacy is strong and lives on through his family and friends. We will all greatly miss him.
As one of the original “Wayside/Tamarac” kids, Joe and I go way back. I always enjoyed the times at the Gardners house, and was always impressed with how warm and caring Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were. I am very sorry to hear of your loss, and I know in my heart he was proud of his entire family. Sincerest condolences.
We go way back with the Gardner family. As one of the orginal owners in Tamarack, I wanted to greet the new neighbors who had bought one of the model homes; that was the first time I met Irene. From 1971 to 2008 covers many football viewings on their BIG TV screen, too many bridge hands to count, and, ofcourse, who could forget the “golf” trip to Spain! ..some many memories of good times. Belton’s smile and his easy manner will forever be imprinted upon my heart. I, and all those who knew him, feel priviledged to have known Belton Gardner.