Barney Laing Gardner (1917 - 2008)

Born 26 Jan 1917 in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Died 2 May 2008 at age 91 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States

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Biography

1st Lt. Barney Laing Gardner was born 26 Jan 1917 in Toledo, Ohio.

He was class president of the University of New Mexico Class of 1939, as well as president of the local chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and vice president of the University Geological Society. He played with the New Mexico Lobos college football team in the Sun Bowl. He also did boxing in college. According to a 1937 article in the “Albuquerque Journal” newspaper, he was a “204-pounder, who exhibits a powerful punch”.

He graduated with a BS degree in geology. After graduation, he worked as a Boy Scout Field Executive in northern New Mexico.

When World War Two broke out, he worked as a Field Director for the American Red Cross stationed with the Ninth Armored Division. When he was drafted into the Army from the Red Cross, he graduated from Officer Candidate School and was commissioned Lieutenant. He served in the Pacific Theater and worked on General Douglas MacArthur's staff in Tokyo as Provost Marshall. When the war ended, Barney wrote and helped implement the regulations for the repatriation of all Japanese troops who were prisoners taken by the Allies. He received the Army Commendation Medal for his fine work in accomplishing this task.

Barney was a member of the American Legion for 60 years, as well as a member of Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church and chairman of the State Republican Veterans in New Mexico. He was Grant County Republican chairman for four years, and was later appointed assistant to New Mexico State Chairman F.P. Llewellyn. In 1958, he ran for commissioner of public lands on the Republican ticket, but he did not win the election.

He and his wife, Virgina Elizabeth Petrecca (1918-2017), operated a successful public relations business for 25 years in Alburquerque. According to his obituary, “he was a talented and creative artist who worked in all mediums, winning first place ribbons in every show he entered”, as well as “a talented poet, a fine brave man, and was loved and respected by all he met”.

Barney passed away on 2 May 2008 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was buried in Mountain Valley Cemetery in Edgewood, New Mexico.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26738380/barney-laing-gardner: accessed 24 November 2023), memorial page for 1LT Barney Laing Gardner (26 Jan 1917–2 May 2008), Find a Grave Memorial ID 26738380, citing Mountain Valley Cemetery, Edgewood, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, USA; Maintained by Karroll Wells-Fisher (contributor 46986311).

• 1920: "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD58-LGB : 3 February 2021), Byron Gardner in entry for Byron Gardner, 1920.

• 1930: "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X44J-SS9 : accessed 2 June 2021), Byron L Gardner in household of Byron Gardner, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 122, sheet 8A, line 17, family 100, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1838; FHL microfilm 2,341,572.

• 1940: "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMRP-Y96 : 6 January 2021), Barney L Gardner, Election Precinct 3 Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 25-5A, sheet 11A, line 20, family 208, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2452.

• World War II Enlistment: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8YN-ZG7 : 5 December 2014), Barney L Gardner, enlisted 23 Feb 1944, Toledo, Ohio, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• Marriage: "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2QWB-K23 : 8 March 2021), Barney L Gardner and Virginia Petrecca, 04 Jan 1940; citing Marriage, Lucas, Ohio, United States, , Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.

• World War II Draft Registration: "New Mexico, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ1-5Q6X : accessed 2 June 2021), Barney Laing Gardner, Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States; records extracted by FamilySearch and images digitized by Ancestry; citing Draft Registration, 16 Oct 1940, "Draft Registration Cards for New Mexico, 10/16/1940 – 3/31/1947," NAID 5721275. Records of the Selective Service System, 1926 - 1975, RG 147. National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri; FHL microfilm .

• Death: "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQM3-XPJ : 12 January 2021), Barney Laing Gardner, 02 May 2008; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• https://www.newspapers.com/image/584004916/?terms="Barney%20L.Gardner"&match=1

• https://www.newspapers.com/image/157595131/?terms="Barney%20L.Gardner"&match=1

• https://www.newspapers.com/image/783186167/?terms="Barney%20L.Gardner"&match=1