Colonel Douglas "CD" Gardner

Colonel Douglas "CD" Gardner died May 4. He was 101.

Gardner was born Sept. 7, 1912 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Arthur James and Juliette Gardner. He attended Kentwood High School in Kentwood, Louisiana before attending Southern University in Baton Rouge. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1936 where he graduated Cum Laude. He later received his master's degree in mathematics from the University of California in 1952 and was a member of the PI MU Epsilon Honor Society in mathematics. He was employed as a teacher at Webster Parish Training School in Minden, Louisiana, and Okolona Junior College in Okolona, Mississippi. In 1954, he began working at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as a computer scientist. During his tenure at the Lab, he wrote a scientific report entitled, "Expels-Fortran Code for Exponential Approximation by Least Squares," which received worldwide attention and respect in the scientific community.

He married Tiny Lee Robinson in 1939. They were married for 61 years until her death. To this union two children were born, Gloria Dean and Douglas Arthur.

He enjoyed tutoring students in math and playing the trumpet. He also was a member of the U.C. Berkeley marching band, participating in the Rose Bowl parade twice. Following his retirement, he enjoyed playing bridge and checkers on the computer or with his good friend Charles Smith. He also enjoyed watching television, especially CNN and every sporting event.

Gardner celebrated his 100th birthday in 2012 with relatives and friends, his first birthday party ever. Here he received a framed birthday card from the President and Mrs. Barack Obama, his greatest joy.

Gardner is survived by his daughter, Gloria Bonds; grandsons, Vincent Lars, Byron Lars and Anthony Gardner; granddaughters, Valerie Gardner, Latice Gardner and Tina Fowler; great grandsons, Gabriel, Devin, Joshua, John, Miles, Jaquon, Travell and Darias; great granddaughter, Latora; and great great granddaughters, Alana Faye, Samantha, Brea and Ayala. He also leaves his El Portal Church family where he was a beloved member as well as a host of relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Tiny Lee Gardner; son, Douglas Gardner; and brother, Arthur Gardner.

A memorial service was recently held.