Melba Isaac Gardner

Melba Isaac Gardner, age 93, surrounded by loving family members, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2016 in Springville, Utah of causes incident to age.  She was born on November 28, 1922 in Leland, Utah, the fourth child of Ben Lester and Juliette Douglas Isaac.  She married her high school sweetheart and eternal companion, Allen Brockbank Gardner, on August 12, 1941, in the Logan LDS Temple.  Allen passed away on August 11, 1975 leaving her a widow for over 40 years.

Melba's greatest joy was her family.  After nine years of hoping for children, she was blessed to have three sons and one daughter.  At the time of her death, her posterity has increased to include 24 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren.

She and her husband lived in the Rose Park area of Salt Lake City as well as Oklahoma City and Spanish Fork before settling in Springville, Utah where they raised their family.

Melba graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1941 where she was an excellent student.  She was a factory worker during World War II supporting the U.S. cause while her husband served in the army in the Pacific Theater.  As a gifted secretary, she later put her talents to work as an Administrative Secretary in the Nebo School District.

She loved her church where she served in various capacities including assignments with the Primary and Young Women's organizations, as a church librarian, and as a temple worker at the Provo Temple.  She cultivated an atmosphere of service in her family as evidenced by the fact that her sons as well as many of her grandchildren served church missions.

She had a strong and vibrant testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and expressed it to her family and friends. As the matriarch of her family, she kept her family together and united for 41 years after her husband passed away.  She lived independently in her home in Springville until she was 90.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and all five of her siblings, Bert, Marie, Russell, Joyce, and Doug.  She is survived by her four children, Brad (Lori) Gardner of Orem, Ben (Kathy) Gardner of St. George, and Gloria (Mike) Nance and Dee (Terri) Gardner both of Springville.

The family would like to express sincere thanks to the Hospice and Home Health providers and especially to Reid's Park Place in Springville for their compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, April 21st at the LDS Chapel on 840 South and 400 East in Springville.  Friends may call at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South in Springville, Wednesday from 6-8:00 p.m. and at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services.  Interment, Spanish Fork City Cemetery