Lloyd Gardner spent years giving back to the education community in Federal Way, and on Tuesday night, that community remembered him.

Gardner, who died at age 88 from a heart attack on Nov. 23, was a longtime activist for the Federal Way education system, going to countless meetings and helping build signs for bonds and levies — then standing outside in all types of weather waving those signs.

“Lloyd was the first person I ever saw waving a political sign,” resident Diana Noble-Gulliford said. “I too will miss him. He has big shoes to fill.”

Gardner spent years going to Federal Way School Board meetings and lobbying for improvements in math and reading. His push for a focus on phonetics was credited for helping WASL scores.

“Lloyd truly believed that the education of our children was the future of our nation,” former school board member Evelyn Castellar said. “I loved the man and I honor him.”

“I always appreciated Lloyd’s view on education,” Superintendent Tom Murphy said. “I’ll personally miss him. It’s a loss to our community.”

School board member Tony Moore recalled how Gardner called him right after his first failed attempt to run for a school board position. “He called me right after my mom,” he said. “He asked what I was going to do next. He carried a passion for the community long after his kids were done.”

“Lloyd was one of those fixtures I thought went with everything,” school board president Ed Barney said. “He was a tireless worker and he will be missed. He had certain things on his mind that he wouldn’t give up.”

There will be a community service to honor Lloyd Gardner at noon Dec. 5 at the Intellipass Building, 1945 S. 341st Place, Federal Way.

Gardner leaves behind a wife, Lu, plus six children and 10 grandchildren.

—-

Lloyd Gardner’s family has asked that memorial contributions be donated to:

Evergreen Freedom Foundation, P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507

St. Francis Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 1502, Tacoma, WA 98401

Federal Way Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 3232, Federal Way, WA 98063