Patricia Ann Gardner

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

Born Patricia Ann Bennett of Walla Walla, Washington, Patricia (known as Pat, Patsy, or Trish to her friends) lived a life full of gifts that she gave freely to all she encountered in her wondrous 90 years on this earth. She sought to live a life full of the things she most cherished: her family, her faith, and the beauty in the everyday. She observed keenly, she learned voraciously, and she loved fully. Her bountiful gifts are passed on through her six children – Harry (Skip) and wife, Suzie; Leon and wife, Wendy; Stan and wife, Janice; Rebecca; Randi; and Susan and husband, Tim (her favorite son-in-law, she liked to joke); her 16 grandchildren – Josh, Samantha, Evan, Kylie, Zach, Meghan, Arin, Jon, Dan, Fred, Blair, Hannah, Andrew, Abby, Ohara, and Violet; and her 13 great grandchildren – Kristen, Ashlyn, Brooks, Ethan, Camron, Madi, Becca, Damian, Areli, Andrew, Logan, Abel, and Stella. She took immense pride in each and every one of them, telling anyone who would listen about their lives and their accomplishments.

Graduating Walla Walla High School in 1951, where she met her husband, Harry Gardner, Patricia she went on to work at the phone company as a switchboard operator starting in 1955. After taking time to raise her boys, she returned to work for the phone company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where she moved with her children in 1965. A proud union member, she spent 30 years working for the company that would become AT&T shortly before she retired in 1994. In Oshkosh, she became a true Wisconsinite, loving a good Packers’ touchdown and her bowling league. It was through bowling that she met the second love of her life, Fred Andersen.

Always faithful, she spent the majority of her retired years deeply devoted to learning about Christianity and in doing the works of the church. A member of Peace Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and then Christ Lutheran Church in Walla Walla, where she returned shortly after her retirement. She spent her days and evenings studying the tenets of the religion she endeavored to live out fully. She taught the Golden Rule to her children and grandchildren and gave freely of the many gifts God gave her: whether cooking and baking, laughing and storytelling, or giving to the wildlife around her home. She readily volunteered her time in the Walla Walla community, spending countless hours cooking and serving the homeless at the Christian Aid Center, answering calls at Help Line, and baking cookies for single moms returning to work at SonBridge Community Center, and donating gallons of her own blood to save others’ lives. Her devotion to learning was also prevalent in her retired years, where she first pursued a 2-year lay ministry certificate and then decided to enroll at Trinity Lutheran College in Issaquah, WA, finally completing an associate degree in culinary arts from Walla Walla Community College in 2010. She told all that she pursued a culinary degree because she wanted to ensure that when she made food for her Father’s children, it was safe and nutritious. She never stopped learning. She was always a friendly face, a smiling neighbor, and a joyful congregant.

She joins her Lord and Savior, as well as her parents and siblings in Heaven.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 10:30 AM, at the Christ Lutheran Church, 1420 S 2nd Avenue, Walla Walla, with Reverend Mike Ostrom officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Christian Aid Center at 212 West Birch Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362.