Gardner Harvey Strong, 89, died Friday, August 28, 2015, at Colusa Regional Medical Center in Colusa following a brief illness.

He leaves his wife of 65 years, Ruth (Dodge) Strong; his daughter Laura Ferdinand; his daughter Carolee Weisberg and her husband Carl Weisberg, his son Roger Strong; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two nephews; two nieces; and many close friends.

Born in Red Bluff and raised in Oakland California, the son of Harvey Wesley and Charlotte Cynthia (Gardner) Strong, he was a thirty-six year resident of Piedmont and a fourteen year resident of Colusa.

After graduating from Oakland High School in 1944, he joined the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, where he was an engineer.

After serving with the Merchant Marines, he attended City College in San Francisco. He met his wife, Ruth Dodge, at a fraternity party and they were married in 1950 in Carson City, Nevada.

Mr. Strong had a passion for flying, sailing, inventing, construction and computers. He was devoted to his family.

A private burial was held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Red Bluff.