William Paul Gardiner, 92, of La Plata, Maryland, died on August 23, 2010 at Charles County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Gardiner was a native of Charles County, born on February 28, 1918 in Malcolm. He was the son of the late George Ignatius Gardiner and Maria Theresa Espey Gardiner. His brothers; George I. Gardiner, Jr., Francis E. Gardiner, Joseph L. Gardiner and nieces Isabel Marie Williams and Marianne Lowe predeceased him.

A graduate of Notre Dame High School, Bryantown, he was locally employed at Southern Maryland Oil and Maryland Federal Savings and Load, the predecessor of BB&T. He was a Purple Heart veteran, having served in World War II and the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Gardiner is survived by ten nieces and nephews: Francis E. Gardiner, Jr. of Lothian, John Noel Gardiner of Owings, Ethel Marie Frye of Frederick, Cecelia Alene Orme of Preston, Marion Louise Hiltenbrand of Denver, Sister; Anne Marie Gardiner of Sliver Spring, George I. Gardiner, III, William Lyon Gardiner, Joseph L. Gardiner, Jr., and Charles Gerard Gardiner, all of La Plata, 27 great nieces and nephews, and 33 great-great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A. from 4 pm-8 pm with prayers at 7 pm on Friday, August 27, 2010. On Friday, September 3, 2010 a viewing will be held from 9 am until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Bryantown Catholic Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Charles County, P.O. Box 1703 La Plata, MD 20646.

Arrangements provided by Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A.