Emogene Gardner

Emogene Hodges Gardner, 95, of Hodgenville, passed away, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at Helmwood Healthcare Center in Elizabethtown.

She was very active and social and had a love for traveling, visiting all 50 states and numerous countries. She was a member of Lincoln Memorial Baptist Church, serving as a deacon's wife, Sunday school teacher, church secretary and orphan home representative all for many years. Emogene also was very active in her community, serving as a volunteer for Sunrise Manor Nursing Home Red Coats, the American Cancer Society, South Fork Homemakers, Young at Heart, Share and Care Group and many others. She and her husband, Ruben, were members of Falls City Antique Car Club for many years. There aren't enough words to describe her love for life, family, travel and being social. She was our go-go girl and social butterfly wrapped in one.

Emogene was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Ruben Gardner; her parents, Wilburn and Carrie Hodges; two sisters, Alva Humes and Mellie Morris; two brothers, Wilburn Jr. and Elmer Hodges; and a grandson, Johnny Ray Gardner.

Survivors include her three children, Ruben "Butch" (Jeanette) Gardner of Elizabethtown, Sandra (David) Craddock of Bagdad and Mechel Gardner of Sonora; eight grandchildren, Darrin Gardner, Nathan (Crystal) Gardner, Chris Craddock, Phillip (Calista) Craddock, Jessica (Cody) Grant, Joe (Fawn) Stults, Matt Stults and Sarah Stults; 14 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; and a host of other family members not mentioned that she loved dearly.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Lincoln Memorial Baptist Church with Brother Tom Downey and Brother David Vaughn officiating. Burial follows alongside her husband in the church cemetery.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in Hodgenville and continues from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the church.

Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.