Richard Floyd Gardner

ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Richard F. Gardner, 74, formerly of Gorham and Sebago Lake, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2025. For the past few years Dick was living at Premier Assisted Living Facility in Orange Park, Fla. He had been under hospice care there for two weeks prior to his passing. During the last year of his life, he received many visits from his niece, Elaine Ritter and his great-niece, Ryan Ritter. These visits made his last several months the most enjoyable in his recent life.

Dick was born on Nov. 11, 1950, as the second child of Floyd and Doreen (Stone) Gardner. Dick graduated from Gorham High School in 1970. Dick followed his father’s footsteps by joining the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation. He served in Vietnam, Philippines, and Japan before his Honorable Discharge in 1973.

Later, Dick earned a B.S. degree in criminal justice. In college he met his future ex-wife, Judy Welch, of South Portland.

Dick began his criminal justice career as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in the U.S./Canada border station at Estcourt. This tiny border station was at the far northerly end of Maine’s ‘Allagash Wilderness Waterway’. The border station was so remote and off the beaten track that in order to access the station one had to either drive hundreds of miles up Maine’s dirt logging roads, or drive via Fort Kent into New Brunswick and then Quebec. With no English speaking television or radio stations there, Dick and Judy spent much of their pastime brook trout fishing. Dick later became a Senior Inspector for the U.S. Customs Service in Miami, Fla. From 1988 to 1993 Dick had participated in the seizure of over 28,000 pounds of cocaine and marijuana; seizure of $150,000 of illicit U.S. currency, along with the seizure of weapons and ammunition. Over the 15 years of government service, he had received many certificates of awards and letters of recognition.

Ever since his deployment to Vietnam, Dick had suffered the longterm effects of PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD). His alcohol dependence has been a chronic disease that affected his life right up to his recent passing away.

He is survived by two brothers, David and his wife Grace of Auburn, Dennis and his wife Diane of Standish, a sister, Diane Gail of Auburn; nephews Justin and Joshua, and nieces Sarah, Stephanie, Darlene, Heidi, April, and Elaine.

Dick was predeceased by his parents; and brother, Brian.

A graveside service with military honors will be held in late spring or early summer at the Hillside Cemetery in Gorham. Details regarding services will be announced at a later date.