Joan Loudenback Gardner91, of Shelbyville, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2016. Joan was born on October 25, 1924 in Henry County to Henry F. and Grace May (McFarland) Loudenback. She married James W. Gardner on August 4, 1945 and he preceded her in death August 18, 2016. She graduated from Mays High School in Mays, IN and gained her B.S. & M.A. degrees from Ball State University, completed her post grad work at Butler University, IUPUI, and Ball State. She was an elementary school teacher for 44 years in the Muncie, Connersville, Manilla, Indianapolis and Shelbyville School Systems, retiring in 1990.Joan belonged to Alpha Delta Kappa (International Honorary Sorority for Outstanding Women Educators), American Association of University Women, National Education Assoc., Indiana State Teachers Assoc., Shelbyville Classroom Teachers Assoc., where she held office in each one. She was nominated Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America in 1975 and won the award. She and her class involved the entire community as well as state and national figures in the burial of a time capsule near the flag pole at Loper Elementary as a Bicentennial project.She is survived by her daughter, Lisa B. Metzger (husband Mark) or Ridgeville, IN; brother-in-law, Jerry & Marilyn Gardner of Franklin, IN; grandchildren, Erin G. Curran (husband David) of Noblesville; and great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn. She is preceded in death by her parents; spouse; brothers, Lynn A. Loudenback, Jasper H. Loudenback, and Hugh E. Loudenback.The Gardner family would like to thank all the doctors and staff at OUR Hospice Inpatient Facility in Columbus, IN for providing care and comfort during her final days.Services will be on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 12 Noon at Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. She will be laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to OUR Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 E. 17th St., Columbus, IN 47201.