Ralph D. Gardner

Ralph D. Gardner, 87, of Zionsville, Indiana, passed away on June 3, 2026, after a long illness.

He was born in Gary, Indiana, to the late Ernest and Dorothy Gardner, and was the youngest of 3 children including brother Robert and sister Sally.

Ralph attended Horace Mann High School in Gary with his wife, Mary Alyce. They enjoyed a large circle of friends, with whom they remained in touch and attended many class reunions over the years. Many remain lifelong friends of the family.

He then attended St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, on a football scholarship. He went on to qualify as a teacher of English.

Ralph joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1965, which started years of relocating to many states in the US, including San Juan, Puerto Rico.

His roles in the FBI included firearms training, SWAT training, hostage negotiation, and bank robberies, to name a few.

After a 25+ year career with the FBI, he began a second career with Pan Am Airlines, Corporate Security, based out of London, UK. He continued to work with Delta Airlines, based out of Frankfurt, Germany. He and Mary Alyce enjoyed travelling to many European countries during their 12 years abroad.

Ralph retired to Zionsville where he began a post-retirement job within Flanner Buchanan, after they and their church supported his family during the untimely death of his son, Scott, at the age of 43.

He and Mary Alyce were blessed with loving neighbors in Zionsville, who watched over them through the years.

Ralph and Mary Alyce were active members of Advent Lutheran Church in Zionsville for many years. They were blessed with support and love from the clergy, staff, and congregation.

Ralph is survived by his daughters, Susan and her late husband Andrew, and Sally and her husband John; grandchildren Meghan, Laura, and Kayla; and great-grandchildren Faye, Emily, Oscar, and Justus.

A Visitation will be held on Monday, July 20, from 4pm to 6pm, and on Tuesday, July 21, from 10am to 11am, at Advent Lutheran Church, 11250 N Michigan Rd, Zionsville, IN 46077. A Funeral Service will follow at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ralph’s memory to the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI.