Howard Gardner, born to parents Roy and Agnes Gardner on April 16, 1929 in Chicago, IL, passed away on July 9, 2024.

He is survived by daughters Susan (Tyler), Kathleen (Tim) daughter-in-law Kathleen Gardner, grandchildren Kendall (Eric), Lauren (Chase), Andrew, Kori and Eimear. Great grandchildren Caleb, Rémy, Ellie, Nora, Cosette and Luke. Howard was preceded in death by his wife of 60 plus years, Dorothy, as well as his beloved son David and grandson Matthew.

Howard spent his early years in Chicago, enjoying scouting, sports, and the great outdoors at his uncle’s farm in rural Wisconsin. After graduating from Carl Shurz High School, he attended the Illinois Institute of Technology where he received a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering and was a starter on the college’s basketball team. In 1961, he received a master’s degree from the University of Idaho.

During his years at Illinois Tech, he met the love of his life Dorothy, on a blind date and they were married in Dec. of 1951. In Feb. 1952, they departed Chicago and headed west to Richland, WA where Howard’s engineering skills were ideally suited to the Hanford Project. In 1954, they celebrated the birth of their son David and in 1956, they welcomed daughter Susan and in 1959 daughter Kathleen.

Howard started his career at Battelle where he worked for many years, followed by Quadrex, Corp, United Nuclear, and ultimately retiring from Westinghouse in 1990. Howard was a devoted family man with a great sense of humor. To say he enjoyed the outdoors would be an understatement. Most weekends (and some weekday evenings) would find Howard cycling, hiking, backpacking, hunting and fishing with family and friends. He was an avid Bridge player and played regularly with his wife and several groups. After retirement, Howard and Dorothy traveled in their trailer to many national parks and landmarks. They also enjoyed trips to Argentina, Portugal and the Azores.

Howard was an avid backpacker and hunter of big and small game as well as a wily fisherman. His adventures in those pursuits took him to Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Arizona. Bicycling was a real passion as evidenced in his riding the 200-mile Seattle-to-Portland Bike Classic 6 times including in one day at the age of 70. Howard was a dedicated volunteer and helped many organizations in the Tri-Cities area including over 60 years with the Richland Rod and Gun Club for which he was celebrated as the longest such volunteer in their storied history. He also spent many hours mentoring youth with hunter education and was a life-long member of the NRA.

Howard lived an amazing and adventurous life, walking thousands of miles over 70 years of backpacking and hunting excursions as well as tens of thousands of miles biking to work for 30+ years along with multiple organized rides. He will be remembered for his love of family, incredible curiosity, a ready willingness to help others and his deep and life-long love of nature.

Per Howard’s request, there will be no service and — fittingly for a man who so loved the outdoors — a tree will be planted in his name.