Katherine H. Patterson Gardner, age 88, of Waterford, died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at her home. She was born April 21, 1920 in Erie to the late Nelson and Margaret Patterson.
Katherine attended Academy High School and married her beloved husband Charles L. Gardner on November 30, 1939. He departed this life on August 23, 1989 after 50 years of marriage. She was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church of Waterford, a past president of Stancliff Hose Company Auxiliary and the Stancliff Marching Drill Team.
As a homemaker, she was always more concerned about her family than herself. She loved her home and her family, and will always be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother. Over the years she enjoyed following her son’s racing career at local race tracks in the tri-state area, and she was a fan of NASCAR and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In more recent years, she loved solving word puzzles.
Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by 4 brothers, Raymond, Edward, Kenneth and Howard Patterson; her sister, Mary Jackson; and her son-in-law, Charles Schultz.
Survivors include two children, Nancy Schultz of Spartansburg, and Richard Gardner (Teri) of Waterford; three grandchildren, Tammy Allen (John), Duane Schultz (Elaine), and Kevin Gardner; three great-grandchildren, Justin Schultz, Sydney Allen, and John Charles Allen; and several nieces and nephews.
“Mom, although our hearts ache with sadness, we are comforted to know that you will no longer suffer with the pain that you endured and that you will have eternal peace with the Lord.”
Friends may call at the Van Matre Funeral Home, 105 Walnut Street, Waterford on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9pm. Funeral services will be there on Wednesday at 11:00am officiated by Pastor Andy Bartlett of New Life Church of Wattsburg. Burial will follow at Waterford Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stancliff Hose Company of Waterford or to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation.
Rich and family – Our thought and prayers are with you at this difficult time.