Harold Leslie Gardiner

GARDINER, Harold Leslie "Les"
May 3, 1928 - Sept 11, 2017
The wheels have stopped turning on this bus. You may have seen our Father if you rode the Queen Street car in Toronto, took a trip on a Grey Coach bus, or went thru the security gates at General Motors in Oshawa. He worked in all these places as well as running his own cartage business in his "spare" time from the 50's to the 80's. Dad retired in his late 50's and continued to move furniture all over the U.S.A. His specialty was moving pianos which he did up to the age of 71. Our Dad was a hard worker with strong hands and a good heart. Once the pianos became too heavy, Dad started as a volunteer driver for Community Care, logging in over 1,000 hours. He continued driving until his 87th year. Dad loved driving no matter the type of vehicle. Our wonderful Dad will be missed by his four children; Dale (Lewis), Chris (Vicki), April (Daniel) and Sarah (Bill predeceased). He is survived by his three grandchildren; Jacques Besner, Mellissa Marr and Matthew Marr (Brittany) as well as five great grandchildren. Dad was the last of his generation. His mother Isabelle and father Harold, brother Fred and sisters Frances, Elizabeth and Gail as well as his special cousin and friend Ralph predeceased him. Dad was a loving husband to our mother Vivian Jean Herrington and was devastated by her death in 1982. In recent years he was the beloved friend and trusted companion of Anne Swinerton. Dad was a faithful friend who always rooted for the underdog, including the Blue Jays and the Maple Leafs. Dad was born in his grandparents farm house in South Western Ontario. He was a descendant of the Gardiner family who emigrated to Canada in 1817, settling in the Millbrook area where the original homestead and Gardiner Cemetery still remain. They had come from the Weardale Valley of Northern England where they had toiled as lead miners. So our fathers tenacious, hardworking spirit tempered with kindness and respect for others came to him naturally. We all love you Dad and were lucky and honoured to call you our Father. All family, friends, neighbours and former coworkers are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Memorial Reception on Saturday, September 23 from 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. at Lakeland Funeral & Cremation Centre, 19 Moose Road, Lindsay, where we shall raise a toast to a life well lived. We would like to thank all the friends, neighbours, caregivers and particularly Dr. Peter Anderson for their support over the last couple of years. Online condolences may be made at www.lakelandfuneralcentre.com.