David Hampton Gardner, 80

David H. Gardner went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on 14th of June 2021.

Dave was born May 8th, 1941 in Cumberland County, N.C in the small community of Beaverdam. After graduating from Stedman High School. he earned a civil engineering degree from N.C. State University. After graduation he served 5 years in the US Air Force. As a navigator on B-52 Bomber Planes. Dave moved to Lakeland in 1969 working with Merrill Lynch as an investment advisor. Due to bad market and hot weather, he started A-1 Air Conditioning Inc. in 1975. A-1 was sold in 1990 since Dave had started a building company, D & D Contractors Inc. in 1987. After suffering a damaging heart attack in 1998, he was always very thankful that God had let him live long enough to see and enjoy his grandchildren. He liked to tell them he made one dollar a day at his first job working in tobacco.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Owen Hervey Gardner and Oleta Vinson Gardner, his brothers Lawrence & Weston, his sister Hilma Cain and his step brothers Tommy & Harold Gardner. He is survived by his wife Mildred A Gardner, his sons David (Jessica) Gardner and Darin (Lisa) Gardner, his step children Chelle (Arthur) Durkin & Kenny (Tammy) Olivier, his step sister Edna Melvin, Joyce Shirley & Betty Sue Smith, his grandchildren Kate, Austin, Hampton & Harper Gardner, Caitlin & Connor Durkin and Nicole Olivier. He is also survived by his former wife Judy Gardner and sisters-in- law Joann Gardner and Frances Gardner.

Dave was an avid golfer and enjoyed the Men’s Golf Association at Eaglebrooke. He enjoyed traveling to see his grandchildren and attending services at Highland Park Nazarene Church where he was a member. Visitation will be held at Gentry- Morrison Funeral Home Southside Chapel on Thursday June 17th, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.. Services begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by his burial at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell at 1:30 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes.