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Fairview Cemetery

Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma
Coordinates: 36.65330, -95.14030

© Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral Home
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Thank You For Your Service!

William A. “Bill” Gardner

January 10, 1939 ~ October 14, 2024

William A. “Bill” Gardner, 85-year-old well known Vinita businessman and longtime community leader, passed away on Monday, October 14, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 10, 1939, in Vinita to J. H. “Eddie” Gardner and Genevieve (Greiner) Gardner. Bill graduated from the Sacred Heart Academy in Vinita in 1957. On November 23, 1957, he married the love of his life, Betty Ann Quarterman in Tulsa. Bill served for a time in the Army National Guard.

He worked for his father growing up at the Piggly Wiggly store, after marriage he owned and operated many businesses in Vinita, along with his brother Jim. He worked for Wonder Bread for several years, owned and operated the Dairy Delight on South Wilson in Vinita, spent many years as the owner operator of Eddie’s Grocery, he and Jim also had B&J Storage, B&J Glass, and Buddy’s E-Z Pay. Bill was a longtime member of the Vinita Lions Club, where he served as an officer and as their District Governor. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Boys Ranch in Oklahoma. He was a member of the Vinita Jaycee’s and the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Vinita. Bill was an avid sportsman, loved fishing for crappie, fly fishing for trout, even caught a record trout in the San Juan River, tied fishing flies, and enjoyed quail hunting. He and Betty enjoyed traveling, RVing, going to South Padre in the winter, and making the Oklahoma Sooner home games.

He was preceded in death by his son Little Bill Gardner, grandson, Christopher Gardner, his brother, James H. “Jim” Gardner, and his parents.

The surviving family includes his wife Betty of the home, children, Cyndi Bussey and husband Rod, Jennifer Raymond and husband Mark, Sandy Gardner and wife Holly, Stacee McSpadden all of Vinita, his brother Joe Gardner and wife Sherry of Vinita, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Eddie Gardner (Moriama), Gage Gardner (Alli), Mark Raymond, Joseph Raymond (Tori), Sarah Raymond, Clair, Emma, and Merideth McSpadden (Chase), Emily Bussey (Kaden Fritz), Amelia Loyd (Zach), Miley Raymond, and Kamden Rohr, Kinzlie and Riley Raymond, Shae Sandhu (Tera), Ame Buford (Jason) Ane Buford (Antonio), Caston Cox, Josaieh, Jaxson, Illyanna, Yesaiaeh, ZynJaya, Matthew, Zayleeanna, Zahlenah, and Zohlene.

The rosary will be at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel.

The funeral mass will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Saint Frances-Rome Catholic Church in Langley, Oklahoma, Reverend Valentine Ndebilie will officiate. Online condolences may be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of the Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral and Cremation Services of Vinita. “Vinita’s only locally owned and operated funeral home.”