A Mass of Christian Burial is to be celebrated May 1 at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, Toms River, for Father William P. Gardner.

A retired priest of the diocese, Father Gardner died April 26 at the age of 73.

A priest of the Diocese of Trenton, Father Gardner, for most of his priestly life, served in the Military Vicariate as a U.S. Army chaplain, spending many tours overseas. The other time he spent in three parishes in the Trenton Diocese, where he and his family moved when he was seven years old.

Born in Chicago May 30, 1936, Father Gardner was ordained a priest May 26, 1962 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop George W. Ahr. He attended St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md., and St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore.

Following his ordination, Father Gardner served for six years in St. Peter Parish, New Brunswick, and then in St. Catharine Parish, Spring Lake. The next 20 years he spent as an Army chaplain.

His Army career included assignments at Fort Bragg, N.C.; South Korea for one year; three years at Fort Hood, Texas, and another three in Germany. Returning to the United States, he was assigned to San Antonio Medical Center, Texas, where he spent a couple of years. Then he was off for three more years in Germany, followed by Fort Jackson, S.C., and again back to Germany.

“Being in the military was a great experience,” Father Gardner said in a 2007 interview with The Monitor on the occasion of his 45th anniversary of ordination. “There were ups and downs as with everything but it taught me to be very flexible. You were often transferred with only a week’s notice.”

Father Gardner left the Army in 1992. He joined the list of distinguished senior priests of the diocese May 31, 2007, after serving an eight-week stint as temporary administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Beverly.

Prior to that, he served as parochial vicar for 14 years in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, where he was well known for his great sense of humor.

Other posts he has held include serving as Ocean County vocational director, chaplain at Morris Hall and St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville, and chaplain of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in Ocean County.

In retirement, Father Gardner took up residence in Columbus in Burlington County. He spent his time helping out in area parishes and traveling.

Learning was another attribute of his life. He was a history buff and sports enthusiast – rooting for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs. He also enjoyed watching horse racing and has traveled to see its Triple Crown with races at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness in Baltimore and at Belmont Park, N.Y.

Father Gardner said the high points of his years as a priest were serving the people and having the support of both clergy and the laity.

“I’ve enjoyed my time as a priest,” Father Gardner said in 2007.

Father Gardner’s body will be received into St. Joseph Church April 30 at 6 p.m. with calling hours following until 8 p.m. when the Mass of Jesus, the High Priest will be celebrated by Msgr. Sean Flynn, pastor of St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt, and former pastor of St. Joseph Parish.

The following day, calling hours will be held in the church from 9 until 11 a.m. when the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Msgr. Gregory D. Vaughan, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia.

Homilist will be Msgr. Casimir H. Ladzinski, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Bay Head, and former pastor of St. Joseph Parish.

Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Hamilton.