Davis Lane Gardner

Davis Lane Gardner, of Auburn, Alabama, passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 94. He was preceded in death by his parents, Davis Wilson Gardner and Nellie Hallford Gardner.  Dave is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Georgia Rooks Gardner.   Other survivors are his children, Cindy Golden (Bill) and Doug Gardner (Karen), along with grandchildren, Jessica Golden Corman (Clay), Andy Golden (Richelle), Will Golden (Brianna) and Lauren Gardner Steele (Matt), and also 6 great grandchildren, William, Davis and Sam Corman, Emery and Elliot Golden, and Archie Golden. Dave is also survived by a sister, Janelle Gilbert.  Dave and Georgia are members of First Baptist Church, Opelika.

Dave was born on July 5, 1931 in Chipley, FL. He graduated from Chipley High School in 1949 and attended Florida State University while studying a General Science curriculum until 1952, at which time he was drafted into the US Navy.  As a recruit, he attended the Navy’s Airman Prep School, then advanced into the Navy’s Aviation Electronics Technician School in Memphis, TN.  Dave distinguished himself by graduating 2nd in a class of 100 students.

Dave then attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (later named Auburn University) from Sept 1953 – Aug 1956 where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He was a member of the ETA KAPPA NU, the Electrical Engineering Honorary, and PHI KAPPA PHI, the Engineering Scholastic Honorary. After graduation, Dave worked at Vitro Laboratories and Metric Systems Corporation, Dept. of Defense contractors in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, but spent the majority of his career in Civil Service at Eglin AFB, where he served as Chief Engineer & Technical Advisor for the Guidance and Control Branch of the Air Force Armament Laboratory before his career culminated in his appointment as Branch Chief.  In 1979, Dave received the prestigious Institute of Navigation’s Colonel Thomas L. Thurlow Navigation Award for his pioneering efforts in developing GPS guidance for weapons.

Following his civil service retirement in 1993, Dave became a licensed General Contractor and built a spec home and many custom homes for family and personal residences.  Throughout his life he enjoyed fishing, hunting, tennis, Auburn football and basketball, and especially serving in his local church.  Service in his local church was important to Dave and he ran the audio system for many years in Ft. Walton Beach and continued this service at First Baptist Church Opelika when he retired to Auburn in 1995.  Dave and Georgia also taught a young married couples Sunday School class for many years, impacting many lives.  Dave was an excellent mentor to several men. 

The funeral service will be held Sunday, July 13, 2025 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika, Alabama.  Visitation is at 2:00 and the service is at 3:00.  Burial to follow at Town Creek Cemetery, Auburn, Alabama. 

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a memorial donation in honor of Davis Gardner, we suggest First Baptist Church of Opelika (www.fbcopelika.com) or Women’s Hope Medical Clinic (www.womenshope.org).