Gretchen Foyt Gardiner, 62, of Nobleboro, peacefully passed away at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn, Jan. 1 after a brief illness.
Gretchen was born in Augusta Oct. 21, 1950, the daughter of Lionel and Bette Webb Foyt. Gretchen graduated from Winthrop High School in 1969. After graduation, she attended the University of Maine at Augusta, and graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a degree in Elementary Education in 1974.
On May 18, 1974, she married Jim Gardiner in Winthrop. Together they raised their family in Damariscotta Mills. Gretchen worked in South Bristol, Bristol, Damariscotta, and Newcastle grade schools, substitute teaching in several long-term classes. She was also employed by the Winthrop Recreation Department, as a lifeguard and a swim instructor for many years. She was also employed at L.L. Bean for many years.
Gretchen had myriads of fond memories of growing up on High Street in Winthrop and playing with her many friends in the neighborhood, particularly her very dear friends, Melody Macomber Jenkins and Judy Howard. She had many pastimes and had many interests. Gretchen enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, knitting, antiquing, reading, computer gaming, and finding good deals with her father at Mardens.
Over the past few years, she truly enjoyed reconnecting with old friends in her online communities, especially the “You Know You’re from Winthrop When” site and Facebook. Most of all, Gretchen loved swimming, enjoying the warm sunshine, tanning, and teaching three generations of Winthrop youngsters swimming lessons. She was a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard for 40 years.
Many of the youngsters Gretchen taught to swim later became lifeguards and swim instructors themselves at the Winthrop Beach. She also spent many summers camping with her family on Cupsuptic Lake in Oquossoc; and later, she spent many enjoyable summers with her family at the family camp on East Grand Lake in Weston. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother to her husband Jim, and sons, Luke and Micah. She was also a generous and caring daughter to her father, Lionel, and a loyal sister to her brothers, Scott and Jon.
She was predeceased by her mother, Bette Webb Foyt.
Gretchen is survived by her husband of 38 years, Jim; sons, Luke Gardiner, and Micah Gardiner and partner Athena Benner; father, Lionel Foyt; brothers, Scott Foyt and wife Cathy, and Jon Foyt; sisters-in-law, Susan Geyer and husband John, and Elain Hilton; brother-in-law, Rob Gardiner and wife Roxanne; nieces, Tabitha Soule and husband Adam, Amanda Hilton and husband Dave Chisson, Ashley Hilton-Onarato and husband Isaiah, and Alexandra Gardiner; nephews, Ethan Foyt and wife Julie, Adam Foyt and partner Alisha Hartung, Kyle Foyt-Bridges, Nick and wife Sarah Geyer, Zachary Geyer and fiancée Lindsay Gutek, and Dan and Ryan Gardiner; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Visiting hours 6-8 p.m., Fri., Jan. 4 at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where a celebration of life will be held 11 a.m., Sat., Jan. 5. There will be a gathering of family and friends immediately following the service at the American Legion Post 40 in Winthrop.
Memorial donations may be made to the Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice Memorial Program, Development Department, 15 Strawberry Ave., Lewiston 04240.
Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.
