June Virginia Gross Gardner

February 5, 1940 to October 3, 2026 (age 86)

June passed away peacefully from metastatic bladder cancer on the evening of October 3, 2026, at her home in Timonium, Maryland surrounded by the love of her daughters Catherine Zizwarek (Cathy). Patricia Gardner (Patti), and her son-in-law John Zizwarek.

June was born on February 5, 1940, in Washington, DC to William Donald Gross and Pauline Herndon Gross. She grew up in Washington, DC and Silver Spring, Maryland. She married Thomas Ross Gardner on April 22, 1961, and together they made their home in Waldorf, Maryland and Bryantown, Maryland. June graduated from Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing at Sibley Memorial Hospital 1962 and spent her entire career as a Registered Nurse. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowie State University in 1989. While living in Waldorf, she also served with the Charles County Volunteer Rescue Squad as a volunteer paramedic for many years. In 1992, she and Tom moved to The Villages, Florida. They spent many years there alternating between a house and living full-time in their motor home traveling the United States. June lost her beloved husband in 2015, and in 2019, she returned to Maryland and made her home in Timonium.

June had many interests and enjoyed staying active throughout her life. She loved singing in church choir, playing handbells and piano, crocheting, cross-stitching, helping with the church quilting group, golfing, water aerobics, reading, and working on jigsaw and word-search puzzles.

June is survived by her daughters, Catherine Zizwarek and Patricia Gardner; her son-in-law, John Zizwarek; her granddaughter, Lauren Thornton, and Lauren’s husband, William Thornton; and her great-granddaughters, Evelyn Louise Thornton and Colette Deborah Thornton. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

June was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, Thomas Ross Gardner; her parents, William Donald Gross and Pauline Herndon Gross; and her brother, Reverend Donald William Gross.

June’s ashes will be interred with her husband at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, 11501 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD  21117, with a brief graveside service. Date and time to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1609 Kurtz Avenue, Lutherville, Maryland  21093, toward the purchase of a new organ. Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.