Toni Brooks (Holton) Gardner

Toni Brooks (Holton) Gardner went home to our Lord, passing away peacefully at her home in Bluffton, SC on Wednesday, February 12th 2020.  She was surrounded by her loving husband and two sons. 

Born to Virginia and Howard Franklin Holton at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH on August 4th, 1946, Toni grew up, the oldest of three sisters, as a die-hard O-H-I-O State Buckeye just like her Dad.  She is predeceased by her father, LtCol (USAF Ret) Howard F. Holton of Dayton, OH.  She is survived by her loving husband of more than 53 years, William (Bill) John Gardner; her children Erik (Rhonda) Gardner of Charleston SC and Patrick (Mareydel) Gardner of Dawsonville GA; her mother, Virginia Holton-Stahl of Dayton OH; sisters Marci (Carl) Jones of Dayton OH, Teri (Richard) Taylor of Dayton OH; her grandchildren Lauren (Greg) Roberts, Cameron Clark, Evan Clark, Jacob Gardner, Cole Gardner, Christian Gardner and Adam Gardner; great grandchildren Russel Roberts and Peyton Roberts; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and all of her friends that she considered as family.

After graduating from Centerville High School in Centerville OH (1964), Toni attended Bolling Green University and Miami School of Business.  Toni and Bill were married at Fort Sam Houston, Tx on March 25, 1966.  Toni enjoyed more than 53 years of marriage while maintaining a career, raising two sons and then retiring to Sun City to enjoy golf, spending time with friends & family, laughing and being GiGi to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  

Leaving the pre-civil war farm house that they remodeled in Xenia, OH, Toni and Bill moved their family to Lexington SC in 1977.  Toni began her own business in 1986, the same year she published her first novel, Raptures Rainbow.  As an author, Toni would publish her second novel in 2010, Pledge of Honor.  Toni and Bill would move three more times to Atlanta, Blairsville and Macon GA before finding their retirement home in Sun City, Bluffton SC in 2015 where she was blessed with so many friends that love their Buckeyes. 

A Memorial Service will be held at Sauls Funeral Home, 90 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton SC, on Thursday, February 20th at 4:00pm with visitation with family and friends from 3:00-4:00pm. Services will be conducted by Chaplain Charlie Tyler.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to HOSPICE of the Low Country or the American Cancer Society in memory of Toni Gardner.

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