Imogene Gardiner Radeker

Imogene Gardiner Radeker died on July 7, 2011 at Flesher's Rest Home in Fairview, North Carolina. Born on January 19, 1917 in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late W. Gwynn Gardiner and Eleanor Tracy Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner was a prominent Washington attorney and was appointed Commissioner of the District of Columbia by President Woodrow Wilson. Mrs. Radeker spent most of her childhood in Washington, DC and was a graduate of Holton Arms. She married Walter Scott Radeker, Jr. in 1935 and moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she would live for most of her life. Imogene and Scott Radeker were proprietors of Bent Creek Ranch in Asheville for many years. Mrs. Radeker was an avid cook and gracious hostess who instilled a love of culinary arts and entertaining in her children and grandchildren. She had many varied interests and accomplishments, including establishing a beauty salon and a ladies fashion shop and studying engineering and technical drawing at Rice University. Mrs. Radeker was fond of all animals and especially loved dogs. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Scott Radeker, Jr. and her son Walter Scott Radeker III. Mrs. Radeker is survived by three children, Imogene R. Stevens of Asheville, North Carolina, Gwynn G. Radeker of Shelby, North Carolina, and Lillian R. Stepp of Amelia Island, Florida; eleven grandchildren, Brent Stevens, Wyatt Stevens, Scott Stevens, Andrew Radeker, Joshua Radeker, Michael Stepp, Jr., Scott Stepp, John Stepp, Elizabeth Loveland, Ann Wong, and Walter Scott Radeker IV; nineteen great grandchildren; and her beloved dog – Mick. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, 72 Long Shoals Road, Arden, NC. Interment will follow in Calvary Churchyard and a reception in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.