Lorin R. Gardner

Major Lorin R Gardner, 50-year resident of Davis, was born on November 12, 1933, in Cornwall, New York, to Raymond Frank Gardner and May Elizabeth (Rogers) Gardner. He was named after his father’s brother, also Lorin Gardner. Lorin grew up in Harriman, New York, then attended Pennsylvania State University, where he majored in Chemical Engineering and was in Air Force ROTC. After graduating, he married Kathleen Dix Fisher, with whom he had two sons: William Lorin Gardner and Dean Michael Gardner. After one year working as a chemical engineer, Lorin was called into active duty with the U.S. Air Force, where he served 22 years as a pilot and engineer.

Lorin’s tours took him all over, to Florida, Alaska, Wyoming, southern California, northern Virginia, the Philippines and finally McClellan Air Force Base in North Highlands, before moving to Davis where he retired in 1977. Lorin then worked as a senior building inspector for the city of Davis until 2000. He married Laura Martinez in 1982 and they had his third son, Clay Stephen Gardner, named after Lorin’s grandfather.

All his life, Lorin enjoyed building things, both big and small. He also was an avid skier enjoying bus trips with many Davis friends on a regular basis until well into his 70’s. After his second retirement, Lorin did some consulting and continued serving with the Davis Rotary Club, including as an officer. With his third wife, Dorothy Robinson, he enjoyed traveling across the USA, flew to England and Europe, and also to South Africa and Mozambique to visit his oldest son and his family.

After a period of slow decline, Lorin passed away suddenly at his home in Davis on September 14. Pop, as he was known, was loved by and will be missed by many, including his wife of 27 years Dorothy, three sons, two grandsons (Jonathan William Gardner and Michael David Gardner), two granddaughters (Chandra Maria (Gardner) Gonzales and Lauren Nadean (Gardner) Hopkins), six great-grandsons (Elijah Jonathan Gardner, Benjamin Jacob Gardner, Henry Lorin Gardner, James Robert Gardner, Liam Pace Gonzalez and Hayden Meyer Gonzalez) and one great-granddaughter (Poppy Annette Hazel Gardner), plus stepsons, step-grandchildren and in-laws.

Lorin will be buried at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.