Paul Gardiner

Paul Edward Gardiner born April 12, 1948 in Bath, NY to Charles & Audrey Gardiner, passed away March 22, 2023. He lived 27,354 days and he made every day count.
Paul graduated from Haverling High School, played football, wrestled & played baseball. Afterwards he joined the United States Army which started his years of service to his country & fellows veterans. Upon leaving the Army, he continued his years of Federal Service at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center, serving at Bath, NY, Chillicothe, OH and retiring from the Louisville KY location. His retirement lasted 2 days as he was back to work on Monday with Disabled American Veterans helping veterans with transportation to & from their appointments and helping them file their service-connected claims. He did retire, again, after 3 years with the DAV.
Paul was a Patriot. He loved our country & our flag. He grew up in the time when every morning before school began, you placed your hand over your heart and recited the Pledge of Allegiance and then bowed your head in prayer. It meant something & he spoke often about that compassion & belief to his grandchildren. He knew how fortunate he was to be born in the USA.
Paul was a volunteer in many youth sports programs throughout his days. For many years he coached Little League baseball, his daughter Erin's softball team and the boys & girls bowling leagues. Years later he would coach his granddaughter, Megan's softball team with his daughter Erin. He also volunteered at the local fire department in his hometown. After retirement, he volunteered, along with his grandson, Keegan, at the Forrest Everett Golf Course at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center for several years. The two enjoyed those Monday evenings.
He was an avid bowler for years. He bowled his one 300 game right here in Chillicothe at Shawnee Lanes. He enjoyed golf & loved playing anytime, anywhere, rain or shine and he especially enjoyed his Thursday Padre league at Jaycee Golf Course.
Paul's greatest pride, happiness & love was his family. He never missed a birthday, school event, parent/teacher conference, volleyball match, softball game or bowling tournament of his daughter Erin. That same pattern carried forward with his 4 grandchildren. There were weeks when he sat on a bleacher every night when they all were on the schedule. He loved organizing family game days & wore a huge smile when the competition kicked in.
Paul is survived by his wife, Christina ("Tina"), you seldom saw one without the other, his daughter, Erin Elizabeth Diehl, son-in-law Todd, and the absolute best grandchildren, Michael Brown, Taylor Brown (Griffen Bowdle), Megan Diehl & Keegan Diehl, great grandson, Gray Bowdle, and their Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Cooper. He loved & cherished his family and every memory made along the way.
His family will hold on to the days they shared with Paul as a husband, father, grandfather & great grandfather out of the 27,354 days he was given. Every day, every memory a gift. He truly had a "why".
Military graveside honors conducted by the Ross County Veterans Honor Guard will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Grandview Cemetery. Friends may join the family for visitation on Friday evening from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Haller Funeral Home.
God saw him getting tired, and a cure was not meant to be, so God wrapped his arms around him and whispered, "Come with me."
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