Barbara A. Gardner, 90, of Laguna Woods, CA formerly of Monmouth died at 8:03 pm, Monday, November 8, 2021, at the Kaiser-Permanente Hospital, Irvine CA.
She was born Oct. 25, 1931, in Monmouth, IL the daughter of Lowell C. and Bonnie V. (Green) Melvin. She was raised and educated in Monmouth, graduating from Monmouth High School in 1949.
Barbara married Donald Howe in Monmouth on Aug. 7, 1949, and he passed away on Oct. 24, 1984. She later married Leland Gardner in Monmouth on Sept. 2, 1990, and he died on Jan. 12, 2005.
Barbara worked at Security Savings Bank in Monmouth as a Teller for 12 years. Following her move to Irvine, CA in 1988, Barbara worked as a receptionist for the Orange County Employee Association for 9 years before retiring in 1996.
She was a member of the Saddleback, Church in Laguna Woods, CA as well as several small groups within the church.
Surviving are her 2 sons, James (Susie) Howe of Tustin, CA, Steven (Alma) Howe of Laguna Hills, CA; daughter, Carol (Wayne) Plizga of Irvine, CA; 3 grandsons, Christopher (Stephanie) Howe of Apopka, FL, Jeffrey Plizga and Michael Plizga both of Irvine, CA; 2 granddaughters, Valerie Howe of Miami, FL and Stephanie Howe of Laguna Hills CA; 2 step-grandsons, Kevin Sparrow of Tacoma, WA and Arfa Alanis of Laguna Hills, CA; 3 great-grandchildren, Gannett Howe and Kayleigh Howe both of Zellwood, FL, and Warren Sparrow of Tacoma, WA; her brother, John Melvin of Monmouth, IL; sisters-in-law, Lois Gardner of Ann Arbor, MI, and Maradine Harrison of Tucson, AZ; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands; granddaughter, Dora Lee Howe, and brother, James Melvin.
A Celebration of Life will at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2022, at McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment will take place at Warren County Memorial Park, Monmouth. Following the interment, there will be a gathering at Meks on Main, 201 N. Main St. Monmouth, IL. Memorials may be given to Breast Cancer Research and sent to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.mcguireanddaviesfuneralhome.com.
