Dorothy “Dottie” Gardner, a vibrant and spirited 95-year-old passed away February 26, 2026, in Lawrence KS. Dottie was born January 5, 1931, in Indianola MS to William & Ira May Poole. At 20 she joined the U.S. Civil Service, taking her to Clark Air Force Base (AFB) in the Philippines. There she met and married the love of her life for 64 years, Lt Col Gayle Gardner, a USAF fighter pilot. She built a life defined by family, service, and adventure.
As an Air Force family, Dottie, Gayle, and their three sons, traveled across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. In 1966, while stationed in Washington DC, Dottie earned her master’s degree at George Washington University. In 1967, during their assignment in England, she began her lifelong career in Education, teaching elementary school at High Wycombe AFB, UK.
Their last USAF assignment took them to Hawaii in 1969 where Dottie taught 5th grade at Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary. Then, in 1970, she joined Punahou Academy teaching 8th grade algebra. Among her many students, was young “Barry,” later known as President Barack Obama. After retiring from Punahou at age 73, she taught at a Christian school until age 81, concluding a remarkable 45-year career in the classroom.
While in Hawaii, Dottie, her husband and three sons (all licensed pilots) owned and operated a flight school and cargo airline throughout the islands. But it was not all work and no play. The entire family got licensed in SCUBA diving and explored the magnificent undersea world, lobstered, and spear fished in the crystal blue Hawaiian waters. They also enjoyed boating, skiing, surfing.
Teaching was not just Dottie’s profession it was her calling. She kept educating students by tutoring them in her home. Even at 95, with progressing dementia, she continued by tutoring composition editing for her memory care house manager who was attending nursing school.
Dottie was universally loved and will be remembered by students and caretakers for her vivacious spirit, youthful energy, unfiltered honesty, and keen sense of humor. If a measure of success is leaving a place better than one found it, Dottie was profoundly successful. She leaves behind a loving family and a legacy in the lives of countless students whose paths she helped shape.
Dottie will be lovingly remembered by her eldest son, also a USAF fighter pilot, Major General Retired, Greg (Gina) Gardner of Lawrence, KS; her grandchildren Gary (Caitlin) Gardner of Overland Park KS, Rachel Gardner of Lawrence, KS, Amanda (Luke) Stallbaumer of Topeka, KS, Chase (Paige) Vervynck of Denver, CO; and her great grandchildren Walter, Hadley, Dannie and CJ.
Dottie will be laid to rest in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in her beloved island home, Hawaii beside her husband and sons, Gary & Gordon Gardner.
Dottie loved the service volunteer Chaplains gave to first responders so in lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the First Responder Chaplain Association, 2518 Ridge Court, Suite 207, Lawrence, Kansas 66046, or online at https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/N4PVJVQKMHHJU
Dottie had the spirit and flexibility of a teenager. I loved listening to her wonderful stories.
Yes, Dottie had a place in her heart for those in chaplaincy ministry. But in the years that I was blessed to know her, it was so evident that she had also given that heart to her Savior, Jesus Christ, whom some of those chaplains also serve.
When I consider Dottie’s walk with Christ, she brings to mind the well-known counsel that it’s not necessary to “put one’s brains on the shelf” in order to follow Jesus. Her journey with Him was engaging and vital. And she was attentive about bringing friends she cared for along with her on that journey. Numbers of Hawai’i women were blessed to be involved in meaningful Bible studies she hosted in her island home over the years. And she was such a neat example of the old adage that “it takes more faith to be an atheist or agnostic than it takes to be a Christ-follower.”
While she will be missed, we’re so grateful that we know beyond any doubt that she’s safe now in the arms of the Savior she trusted. And we’re thankful for the abundant life Jesus gave her for these many years until her first breath of eternal life in Heaven last Thursday.
A hui hou kākou, Sister Dottie!
Rick and Iris Lazor
Honolulu
My husband and I had the pleasure of knowing for Dottie. She was one of my hubbys favorite residents. He remembers bringing her some pecan pie at thanksgiving because she had not had any in such a long time. And I just had to smile when you mentioned her helping students even at 95. This is because when I was in high school and beginning college when I met Dottie. She would read and edit all of my school assignments and papers. I could tell she really enjoyed it and was always ready to read and help me with my next one. I am also thrilled that she will be able to be back in Hawaii. She will be back with many of her loves in life. She was always talking about Hawaii, her hubby, and her sons.