John Loyal Gardner

John Loyal Gardner After an extremely happy and productive 93 year journey in life, John Loyal Gardner of Long Meadow Road, Fishersville, Virginia, died on Monday, November 29, 2010, at his residence.

Before Mr. Gardner and his wife retired to their Fishersville farm in 1974, he had been a well-known advertising executive in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. He was profiled in each year's edition of "Who's Who in American Advertising" from 1951 through 1974.

John was born in Kansas City, Missouri January 6, 1917.

He spent his childhood during the Great Depression of 1929 through 1936 and credited that for his life long credo and advice to others that good health, good education and hard work will create opportunities and rewards.

Upon graduation from high school, John joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, a government created depression era employer of jobless young men to do hard manual labor in forestry and in correction of soil erosion on farms.

After twelve months in the CCC, John enrolled in the University of Missouri. There he worked his way through four years of studies while also being captain of the university's baseball and boxing teams, a member of Blue Key Honorary and election as President of the student body by popular election.

From 1939 college graduation until 1958, in addition to three World War II years in the United States Air Force in North Africa and Italy, John held jobs as Advertising Manager of National Dairy Products Corp. and Marketing Director of Omar Baking Company, B. T. Babbitt Company and General Baking Company.

In 1958, Mr. Gardner moved from the company side of advertising to the advertising agency side. From 1958 until 1974, he was Senior Vice President of three of America's five largest advertising agencies.

From 1958 until 1963 at Young and Rubicam Inc., Mr. Gardner was in charge of national advertising and promotion for products of Procter and Gamble Company. From 1963 until 1968 at Kenyon and Eckhardt Inc., he was in charge of national advertising and promotion for products of National Biscuit Company and Pabst Brewing Company, and promotion for Pepsi Cola. From 1968 until 1974 at Dancer Fitzgerald and Sample Inc., he was in charge of national advertising and promotion for Hellmann's Mayonnaise and Salad Dressings, Skippy Peanut Butter, Milk Bone Dog Foods and other products of CPC International.

During World War II, John served 33 months in North Africa and Italy in the United States Army Air Corps. He was awarded the Bronze Star and four smaller medals for participation in the Allied invasions of Italy and southern France.

John and his wife, Helen, retired to their Fishersville farm, Tymar ("Take Your Money And Run"), in 1974 when he was 57. In retirement, John was one of the founders and a member of the Board of Directors of the Waynesboro Boys and Girls Club. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of Staunton Plaza Shopping Center, United Way and Augusta Expo. He was a volunteer teacher with Literacy Volunteers of Augusta tutoring English to Spanish and Italian speaking immigrants.

John and his wife loved foreign travel and traveled extensively in more than thirty countries including all of Europe, Central and South America, China, Japan, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Africa and others. They visited several countries several times.

Mr. Gardner is survived by a beautiful, loving and totally unselfish wife and partner of 69 years, Helen Louise, of whom John was always extremely proud; their three wonderful daughters, Lynda, Sally and Allison, of whom he was equally proud; three fine sons-in-law, John McElfresh of Fishersville, Bruce Rapp of Peterborough, Ontario, and Donald Robertson of Earlysville, Virginia; a brother and his wife, Steve and Kathy Parmely of Stover, Missouri; two grandsons and their wives, Jim and Kristina Hayes and children, Connor and Katrina of Libertyville IIIinois, and Kevin and Cristina Hayes, and their children, Abigail and John of Gurnee, Illinois.

In summary, Mr. Gardner was a happy man with a marvelous wife and family and a strong belief in education and hard work.

At his request, there will be no funeral.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, December 9, 2010, at McDow Funeral Home in Waynesboro, Virginia.

His body will be cremated and his ashes buried in the family plot in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.

It also is the request of Mr. Gardner, that in lieu of flowers, any remembrance be in the form of a gift to the Waynesboro Boys and Girls Club.

Those wishing to share their memories with the family online may do so at www.mcdowfuneralhomeinc.com.

McDow Funeral Home is handling arrangements.


This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.