Winfield Scott ‘W.S.’ Gardner

Mr. Winfield Scott (W.S.) Gardner, 95, passed away peacefully Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, following a brief period of illness.

Born Oct. 2, 1926, in the Churchill community of Macon, N.C., he was the son of James Herbert Gardner and Valeria Virginia Jones Gardner.

He attended Louisburg College, then served as a medic in the Navy toward the end of World War II. He graduated from the UNC Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy in 1949 as a member of the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society and was awarded the Rho Chi Medal of Honor.

He married Charlotte Usher Gardner in 1948, and they shared 69 wonderful years before her passing in 2016. She was the love of his life and favorite dance partner. Together they started a family, enjoying a long, rich life with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After establishing a career in Asheboro, N.C., W.S. and Charlotte moved to Burlington where he opened his first business, Alamance Drug Company. In 1958, he opened Medical Village Apothecary. Passionate about his profession, he was an innovator in his field. He cared deeply about the customers and community he served. Even beyond retirement, he continued to be involved in the apothecary, ensuring the business continued to uphold the values he established.

Often described as a “sweet man” and known for his innate kindness and generosity, he was loved by all who knew him.

A provider, he brought family together as much as possible. He established an annual family beach trip to Surf City, N.C., an ongoing tradition stretching across four generations.

An avid fisherman, hunter and golfer, he accumulated many friends throughout his lifetime. In recent years, he cultivated invaluable friendships at the Village of Brookwood, socializing, playing Rummikub and dancing. Known around the Alamance Country Club as “The Dancin’ Man,” he never missed an opportunity for dancing to live music on Friday nights. Exuding a fervor for life well into his later years, he was proudly independent. He even had his driver’s license renewed before his 95th birthday.

He is preceded in death by sisters, Laura Eaton Gardner Tucker, Mary Vann Gardner St. Sing and Sallie Elizabeth Gardner Harris.

He is survived by daughters, Nancy Gardner Skeen and husband, Donald, of Burlington and Rebecca Gardner Fuller and husband, Earl B. Fuller Jr., of Ellijay; son, James Herbert Gardner II (Jim) and wife, Katherine (Kathy), of Graham; and brother-in-law, Griff Usher and wife, Loretta, of Thomasville; grandchildren, Katherine Skeen Peele and husband, Russell, of Summerfield, Matthew Donald Skeen, of Durham, Laura Fuller Long and husband, Nicholas, of Acworth, and Caroline Fuller Garrett and husband, Ryan, of Ellijay; great-grandchildren, Justin Long, of Acworth, Lawton Scott Peele and Reid Peele, of Summerfield, and Chandler Garrett, of Ellijay; and greatly loved nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in the cemetery of Gardner’s Baptist Church, Macon, N.C.

Memorials can be made to Front Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 2597, Burlington, NC 27216-2597, Louisburg College, 501 N. Main Street, Louisburg, NC 27549, or Residential Treatment Services of Alamance, 136 Hall Ave., Burlington, N.C. 27217.

Rich & Thompson Funeral Service in Burlington, N.C., was in charge of arrangements.