Gene Albert Gardner, age 95 of Barberton, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 5, 2026.  He was born on June 19, 1930 in Akron, Ohio.

Gene grew up in Portage Lakes on the water and liked to boat and fish and enjoyed fishing at Lake Erie.  He and Mary enjoyed bowling and were in a league for 20 years.

Gene was in the Navy Reserves for 8 years in the 1950’s. He worked at B&W, Ajax Machine before retiring with Universal Machine in 1995 after a total of 45 years as an expert machinist.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Helen Gardner and sister Marilyn Bowers.  Gene is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Mary Gardner; his daughters, Debbie ( John) Ligas and Pam (John) Campbell; sons, Randy (Shari) Gardner and Steve (Tracy) Gardner; grandchildren, John (Jacqueline) Ligas, Dan Ligas, Michelle(Christopher) Light, Lauren (Maxwell) Zugay, Caroline Gardner and fiancé Austin Walker; step grandchildren, Amber (Ryan) Schodorf, Heather (Aaron) Whisman, Cory Hoffman and fiancé Madison, and Taylor Hoffman; great grandchildren, John and Thomas Ligas, Brett and Maelin Light, Lucas and Eliza Zugay, Tate Gardner and Aspyn Walker; and 9 step great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Diana, Kathy, Susan, Diamond and Larry from Traditions Hospice and Barbie and Jeanne with Traveling Angels for their wonderful and loving care they gave to Gene.

Private services will take place with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron, Ohio.

Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Humane Society of Summit County (752 West Portage Trail, Akron, OH 44313), St. Jude (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105), or Shriners International (2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607).