Alice "Betty" E. Gardner

ALICE ELIZABETH “BETTY” GARDNER, 87 of Sterling, Virginia passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025, at her home in Sterling, Virginia. Born Saturday, November 13, 1937, in Leesburg, VA, she was the daughter of the late Julian Hansborough and the late Cora Rusk Hansborough. She was predeceased by her brother, Robert “Bear” Hansborough. Betty leaves many to cherish her memory including her husband of 68+ years, Melvin C. Gardner, son, Michael Gardner (Jill D.), daughter, Sandra Gardner Brill (Melvin), grandchildren, LeighAnn, Kenny (Jaclyn), Allie (Jared), and Connor, great grandchildren, Noah, Vivienne and Gloria, and Goddaughter, Mary Beth. Betty was a friend to many including those in the Sterling Ruritan Ladies Auxiliary, her longtime bowling and Bunco friends, Sterling and Richland Acres neighbors and more. She had many life- long schoolmates that remained friends until she passed. Many kids of Loudoun County considered her their second mom or grandma. She helped start the Lower Loudoun Girls Softball League and you could find her many days at her kids’ and grandkids’ baseball and softball games on the sideline as the official scorekeeper. Betty also prepared income tax returns for the elderly and local farmers-even teaching one of them how to sign his name. She first and foremost loved her family with all her heart! She also loved the Washington Senators/Nationals, Redskins/Commanders, finishing crossword puzzles, gardening, family beach vacations, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, Country music (especially George Strait and Alan Jackson), Elvis, Disney World, Dollywood and dancing. She also loved sharing a good meal with loved ones. Betty had a great sense of humor, quick wit, a beautiful smile and always spoke her mind. She was admired for her strength, suffering a major stroke and given 2 weeks to live in 2015, but staying with us here on Earth for almost 10 years. She was also known for always “showing up” for family, friend or neighbor in need. She had an unbelievable way of making sure everyone knew that they mattered. The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Cir. SE, Leesburg, Virginia. A Celebration of Life will be from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at the Sterling Ruritan Club, 183 Ruritan Dr. Sterling, VA 20164. Interment will be held privately at Leesburg Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA. In lieu of flowers donations the family kindly requests that donations be made to Childrens’ National Hospital in honor of Gloria Gardner, Betty’s great-granddaughter. Your support will help provide care, hope and healing to children and families in need. Donations can be made at https://mail.yahoo.com/b/folders/1/messages/ABwL1MUiUPCyaAAgHAi6YP5P-w0?.src=ym&reason=myc&folderType=INBOX&offset=0&unblockNow=false#:~:text=https%3A//giving.childrensnational.org/site/Donation2%3Fdf_id%3D12624%26mfc_pref%3DT%2612624.donation%3Dform1%26s_src%3DDREVRGRN%26s_subsrc%3Dcpc%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds%26gad_source%3D1%26gbraid%3D0AAAAAo5m_Fi6i86HlPiG8mGXGHBMrJo7Z%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMIqJ2rsbzdjAMV4TQIBR2MjxpeEAAYAiAAEgKEuPD_BwE

Alice "Betty" E. Gardner

November 13, 1937 - April 14, 2025