Gardner Starr Foote, 94, peacefully passed away on January 30, 2016.
Gardner was born to the late Fred Otto Foote and Hazel (Farrar) Foote in Lisbon Falls, Maine, on September 8, 1921.
He was very proud of his hometown and of being a Mainer. In the early forties, he worked in the South Portland shipyards building victory ships. In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps and after training in aircraft maintenance, was deployed to the Pacific Theater during WWII. Gardner remained in the Air Corps which eventually became the US Air Force in 1947. He rose to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and after 28 years of service, retired in 1970. Service to his country spanned three wars; WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and continued into civilian life working within the federal government. He was truly proud of his Air Force roots and was a member of several military veteran organizations.
Gardner was a member of the Freemasons and the Shriners and was very generous with his time and money in support of these organizations.
During his life, he traveled the world and lived in several different states, but in 1977 he retired to Port St Lucie, Florida which he then considered his new hometown. He was active in multiple civic organizations, as well as government groups and the local banking community. Gardner was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of Masonic Lodge #87 in Fort Pierce as well as the Shrine and Eastern Star. He was active in the Air Force Sergeants Association and the First Congregational Church in Port St Lucie.
In retirement, he continued his love of travel, making many trips back to New England to visit friends and family and touring the country from coast to coast.
Gardner is predeceased by his parents, Fred and Hazel, two sisters, Lois Foote and Katherine Dunn, and a stepson, Wayne Kinney.
He is survived by his wife Jeanne (Wolcott) of Melbourne, FL; a brother, Winfield James of Lewiston, ME; two sons, Donald of Biddeford, ME and Kevin of Chicago, IL; two stepdaughters, Lynne Miner and Dawn Johnson; five stepsons, Don Kinney, Paul Kinney, Mark Kinney, Gordon Kinney and Michael Johnson; nieces Jane Labbe, Peggy Lecuyer and Nancy Goodwin; nephew David Dunn; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Gardner will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery later this year. In lieu of flowers or cards, please make donations to The Shriners Hospitals in Gardner's memory.