Roy Bergin Gardin

Roy Bergin “Seapappy” Gardin, 88, of 29 Swannanoa Avenue, Asheville, died Tuesday, February 4, 2003, at Hospice Solace Center. A native of McDowell County, he was the son of the late Cleveland Albert and Fannie Mae Murphy Gardin. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Albert Gardin and Jack Kesterson and a sister, Alma Kesterson Kelos. Mr. Gardin was discharged from the US Navy in July 1936 as a Seaman Second Class. He worked for W. R. Candler Transfer and other trucking companies in the area for several years. He retired from the Asheville Police Department in 1974 after 21 years of service. He was a member of VFW Post 891 and a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Police since 1953. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ruth Jarvis Gardin; 6 children, Sherry G. Johnson, her husband Stewart and their daughter Sara “Haley” of Asheville, Betty Ann Gardin Sparks and Judy Gardin Needle, both of Asheville, Tommy Gardin of Port Orange, FL, Roger Gardin of Atlanta, GA, Abby Gardin Thornton of Port Orange, FL; six other grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; six brothers and sisters, George Gardin of Hickory, NC, Virginia Gardin Williams of Rock Hill, SC, James Kesterson, June Kesterson Rogers, and Stella Sexton Hughes all of Hendersonville, NC, Myrtle Sexton Baines of Columbia, SC, and former son-in-law, Stanley E. Banks of Asheville. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Reverend Bill Snyder, chaplain of the Asheville Police Department, and Stewart Johnson officiating. The Asheville Police Department Honor Guard will assist. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 pm prior to the service at the funeral home and request that memorials be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.