Eloise Gardiner

Eloise M. Gardiner, 95, of Shippensburg, PA, died Wednesday morning, September 11, 2013 at the Shippensburg Health Care Center, where she resided for the past two months. She had previously been a resident of the Episcopal Home in Shippensburg. Born September 20, 1917 in Marietta, OH, she was a daughter of the late Charles M. and Jennie M. Dillie Thurman. During WWII, Mrs. Gardiner was employed with the United States Secret Service. She later retired from the former S.S. Kresge Store in Wheaton, MD, where she had been employed for twenty years. Mrs. Gardiner was a member of Grace Brethren Church in Chambersburg and a former active member of the Keymar Evangelical Christian Church, Keymar, MD. She enjoyed writing and sending letters and cards to her family, friends, and members of her church. Her husband, Harrison R. Gardiner, whom she married November 1, 1938, preceded her in death on October 6, 2004.

She is survived by her son, Jerry Gardiner and wife Bonnie of Martinsburg, WV and their children Kathy, Jenny, and Ronnie; her daughter, Judy Elder of Shippensburg and her children Mick Elder and wife Jen and Keli Davis and husband Josh; nine great-grandchildren, Paul Kevin, Amber, Marlee, Scotty, Colin, Ethan, Mikayla, Taylor, and Owen; and one great-great-grandson, Trevor.. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, September 14, 2013 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA with her grandson, Mick Elder and Rev. John B. Bayer, Jr. officiating. Interment will be at 2:00 PM Saturday in Union Cemetery, Burtonsville, MD. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Friday and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home.