The next chapter in the story of the house at 920 Broadway covers a period of about 11 years, when 920 Broadway was the home of the family of Charles W. and Ethel M. Gardner, who lived there after the death of the previous owner Mary Buckley in 1961.
Pekin city directories provide the following list of entries on Charles and Ethel Gardner:
- 1962 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., P.O. carrier; 920 ½ vacant
- 1964 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., P.O. carrier; Leona Kammerer (wid Hartford), 920 ½ Broadway
- 1965 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., P.O. carrier; Albert A. Sellers, pres. Abstract & Title, 920 ½ Broadway
- 1966 – Charlede (sic) Gardner, wife Ethel M., P.O. carrier; Albert A. Sellers, retd., 920 ½ Broadway
- 1968 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., plnt wkr Corn Prod.; Albert A. Sellers, retd., 920 ½ Broadway
- 1969 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., double listed as both P.O. carrier and plnt wkr; Albert A. Sellers, counterman Rafferty Auto Parts, 920 ½ Broadway
- 1970 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., emp P.O.; 920 ½ Broadway vacant
- 1971 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., P.O. carrier; Wilbur K. Murphy plnt wkr Allied Mills, 920 ½ Broadway
- 1972 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., P.O. carrier; Albert Sellers with U.S. govt, 920 ½ Broadway
- 1973 – Charles W. Gardner, wife Ethel M., carrier Postal Serv; Wilbert J. Murphy retd., 920 ½ Broadway
For most of the period that Gardners lived here, Charles William “Charlie” Gardner (1920-2008), a World War II Army Air Corps veteran whose war injuries merited him the Purple Heart Air Medal, was a mailman, retiring in 1981. He and his wife Ethel Mary (Gordon) Gardner (1924-2007) had a daughter named Jean Annette (Gardner) Bolen (1944-1975) and son named Stephen C. Gardner, and both of their children had several children of their own. After the 1973 city directory entry, we find that the Gardners moved to 2600 Brooklawn Ave. in Pekin.
In the decade or so when the Gardners lived at 920 Broadway, the apartment at 920 1/2 was rented briefly to a widow named Leona M. Kammerer (1914-1998), then for several years to Albert Atwood Sellers (1915-1980), and then to Wilbert James Murphy (1906-1983). Like Charlie Gardner, Al Sellers was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Marines — and Sellers also served in the Korean War.
In 1975 — after the Gardners had moved from 920 Broadway — Charlie and his wife Ethel suffered the untimely loss of their daughter Jean from a sudden illness — she was only 30 years old, leaving her bereft husband James A. Bolen and their four sons, Douglas, Darin, Christian, and Chayne. Charlie and Ethel outlived their daughter Jean by more than three decades, and were survived by their son Stephen and his wife Patricia, as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Ethel died 9 June 2007 at Timbercreek Rehab & Healthcare Center in Pekin, follow not quite a year later by Charlie, who also died at Timbercreek on 1 May 2008. Ethel and Charlie are buried together at Glendale Memorial Gardens.
Following is a transcription of Ethel Gardner’s obituary from the 11 June 2007 Pekin Daily Times, followed by Charlie Gardner’s obituary from the 1 May 2008 Pekin Daily Times:
PEKIN — Ethel M. Gardner, 82, of 2220 State St., passed away at 7:28 a.m. Saturday, June 9, 2007, at Timbercreek Rehab & Healthcare Center. She was formerly of 2600 Brooklawn.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Henderson Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ron Little officiating. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 tonight at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 Taps Lane, Pekin, IL 61554.
She was born July 26, 1924, in Bartonville to Richard and V. Mabel Sexton Gordon. She married Charles W. Gardner on Dec. 12, 1943, in Tampa, Fla.
Surviving are her husband of Pekin; one son, Stephen (Patricia) Gardner of Pekin; eight grandchildren, Terri (Michael) Pogioli of Pekin, Andrew Gardner of Springfield, Douglas Bolen and Darin Bolen, both of Pekin, Chris Bolen of Armington, Chayne Bolen of San Jose, Jason (Amanda) Broughton of Pekin and Jon (Hayley) Broughton of Phoenix, Ariz.; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one brother Charles Gordon in Iowa; and one sister, Edith (Charles) Miller of Pekin.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Jean Bolen, and four brothers.
Gardner was a bookkeeper and waitress at Pekin Country Club during the 1950s and 1960s. She enjoyed doing crochet and needle work.
PEKIN — Charles W. Gardner, 88, formerly of 2600 Brooklawn Ave., died at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Timber Creek Rehab & Health Care in Pekin.
He was born on March 16, 1920, in Farmer City to Blaine M. Sr. and Adeline L. Hoyt Gardner. He married Ethel M. Gordon on Dec. 12, 1944, in Tampa, Fla. She preceded him in death on June 9, 2007.
Also preceding him in death is one daughter, Jean Bolen; seven brothers, Blaine “Monroe” Jr., Joseph, James, Robert “Croak,” Kenneth Dale, Roger and Willis “Willy” Gardner; and two sisters, Betty Gardner and Vera Quarello.
Surviving are one son, Stephen (Patricia) Gardner of Pekin; six grandchildren, Terri Pogoli of Pekin, Andrew Gardner of Springfield, Douglas Bolen and Darin Bolen, both of Pekin, Chris Bolen of Armington and Chayne Bolen of Delavan; and two stepgrandsons, Jason Broughton of Pekin and John Broughton of Pahrump, Nev.
Charlie was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, serving as a navigator and bombardier and attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He served in the air offensive campaigns of Europe, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Normandy, Northern France and Air combat-Balkans. He received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received on May 15, 1944.
He was a letter carrier for the United States Post Office for 31 years, retiring in 1981. He then was a deliveryman for Eastabrook Laundry for 10 years, retiring in 1991.
Charlie was a 50-year member of the Wet Bowling League in Pekin. He was a lifetime member of the Pekin Bowling Hall of Fame. He was an avid horseshoe player belonging to several leagues. He was also a die-hard Cubs fan.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Henderson Funeral Home. The Rev. Ron Little will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. Interment will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin. Memorial contributions may be made to TAPS Animal Shelter, 100 Taps Lane, Pekin, IL 61554.
Next week, we will continue our account of the history of 920 Broadway with the next family to live there, the Rotramels.
