Rebecca J. Gardner passed away on Thursday, July 4th, 2024. Rebecca Joan Gardner, 74, was born Nov. 3, 1949, in Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, PA, the last child and only daughter of the late Jeanne Fultz Gardner and her beloved father, Edmund Johnson Gardner. She lived in Youngwood during her early years before moving to a home in Hempfield Township that her parents had built. She attended St. Clair Elementary, Youngwood Junior High and Hempfield Area High School. Rebecca graduated as the valedictorian of the Hempfield High School class of 1967 and gave a commencement speech. She then attended Grove City College and majored in English and Political Science. While at Grove City, she met her husband, George Socher, whom she married in 1978. Rebecca spent her entire career in public education. She taught at Wendover Junior High, West Hempfield Junior High and Hempfield Area Senior High for 23 years. In addition, she served as an Assistant Principal at the high school before becoming a Principal at Harrold Middle School for 15 years. She was admired and remembered by many of her colleagues and students during those 38 years. She did extensive graduate work and received a Master's Equivalency in Political Science as well as two master's degrees in Interdisciplinary studies and her Secondary Principal Certification from Duquesne University. She completed her doctoral classes at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Rebecca was well known for her love of American History, the American government, books, animals and teddy bears (all of which have names). She loved her canine companions: Maggie, Bourbon and Riley and her three rescued feline companions: Caddy William, Marshall and Fenwick. Because of those many 'loves', she served on the Greensburg/Hempfield Library Board for several years, first as a member and then as President. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Westmoreland County. Rebecca had a phenomenal memory and prided herself on knowing the birthdates and anniversaries of family and friends. Over the years, she sent thousands of cards, made hundreds of calls and spent countless hours visiting and staying in touch with those she cared so deeply about. She especially cherished those who stayed in touch during her six years at Redstone Highlands Nursing home in Greensburg. Besides her parents, Rebecca was predeceased by her mother and father-in-law, Marguerite Leah (Mathias) and Gerald Henry Socher and many cherished relatives. She is survived by her beloved husband of 46 years, George A. Socher, her brother Jon (Sue) Gardner, her nephew Sean Gardner, her brother and sister-in-law David and Ann Socher, her nephew Jeffrey (Elizabeth) Socher, her niece Natalie Socher and many, many cousins and friends. The family would like to thank the staff at Redstone Highlands Greensburg for the compassion and care they showed to Rebecca. Interment will be private, and a celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later date. Personalized funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the C. RICHARD MCCAULEY FUNERAL HOME INC., 101 S. 4th Street, Youngwood. For online condolences, visit Mccauleyfuneralhomes.com To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.