Sharon Bird Gardner

AUGUST 27, 1952 – MAY 10, 2016

In Loving Memory

Virginia Beach, VA-Sharon Bird Gardner passed away May 10, 2016 at the ICU, Duke Medicine Pavilion, Durham, NC.

Sharon was born to Air Force Major Glen Millan Bird and Barbara York Bird of Salt Lake City, Utah at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. She grew up with her fellow "Air Force Brat" siblings, Pamela Hoffman, Gregory M. Bird, and Debra Manteghi, spent her teenage years in the Holladay suburb of Salt Lake City, graduating from Olympus High School, and worked in the Pediatric Emergency Department of LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City through 1978.

She met her husband Philip R. Gardner in London, England in June 1978 and was married in Salt Lake City, Utah December 28, 1978. In January 1979 she moved to Yeovil, England with her husband where they were joined by son Iain in 1981 and daughter Samantha in 1984.

July 1984 saw the family return to US where, after several moves, they settled in Virginia Beach, VA in 1993. Sharon thrived on volunteering, receiving "Volunteer of the Year" at Kempsville Elementary School and Kempsville Middle School more than once, and once at both in the same year. She also volunteered at Sentara Leigh Hospital, Norfolk, and in the Virginia Beach Juvenile Court system.

Sharon is succeeded by her husband, Philip R. Gardner, Virginia Beach, VA, son Iain P Gardner, Cincinnati, OH, and daughter, Samantha J. Kelley, Chesapeake, VA, and four grandchildren.

Special thanks are extended to the ICU staff at both Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, Virginia Beach, and Duke Medicine Pavilion, Durham, NC for their exceptional care during her final days.

Sharon's funeral service will be held at the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4784 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 at 3:00 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to the American Liver Foundation, 39 Broadway, Suite 2700, New York, New York 10006(www.liverfoundation.org/howtohelp), or the charity of your choice in her name. You may offer condolences to the family at www.smithandwilliamskempsville.com.

Published by Deseret News on May 16, 2016.