Charles Richard Gardner

October 8, 1949  -  January 2, 2025

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Retired) Charles Richard Gardner (known by his friends as “Rick”), age 75, of Williamsburg, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. Rick was born on October 8, 1949, to the late Charles William, Jr and Muriel Kessler Gardner in Queens, New York. He is survived by his wife, Ruby; daughter, Christina Toler; grandson, Andrew Toler; and brother, David William Gardner. Rick joined the U.S. Army in 1972 and was a U.S. Army diver for 12 years stationed in South Korea, Alexandria, and Newport News, VA. Rick retired in 1998 as a Marine Engineer Chief Warrant Officer from Fort Eustis, VA. He never met anyone who was a stranger, and loved sharing stories about anything and everything that he was passionate about. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, camping and spending time in the great outdoors.

Rick worked tirelessly to document army diving and boat work with the Musuam at Fort Eustis. He was also a major supporter of the USADA.