Beatrice Virginia Gardner, age 94, of Washington, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Halcyon House.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Grace Hill Cemetery, with Chaplain Brad Moore officiating. Memorials have been established for Halcyon House and Hospice Compassus. Online condolences may be sent for Bea’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

Beatrice was born on March 29, 1932, in Coppock, Iowa, the daughter of Howard and Bessie (Manning) Gingerich. She attended Brush #8 Country School and later graduated from Kalona High School. Bea married Billie Kindred on June 19, 1949, and the couple later divorced.

Bea retired from Washington County Hospital after over 20 years of service, and moved to Denver, Colorado, where she worked as a nanny for several attorneys. In January 1998, Bea married Donald C. Gardner, and they spent many years traveling around the country together. Bea was a member of the United Methodist Church in Mesa, Arizona, and enjoyed traveling, dancing, hosting parties, and taking pictures of her family.

Bea is survived by daughter, Rhonda Chorpening of Washington, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Cyndi (Chris) Kindred Mernka of Texas; sister, Donna Fischer of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren, with one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, in 2025; her parents; brother, Rex Gingerich; two sons, Bill and Steve Kindred; daughter-in-law, Deb Kindred; and brother-in-law, Kenny Fischer.