Ralph C. Garner

Ralph Campbell Garner, 93 of Chattanooga, TN, passed away Tuesday, November 8, 2011. A native of Blount County, he attended Lanier School and graduated in 1937 as Valedictorian. He then attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville graduating in Business Administration in 1942. He was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi Accounting Honor Fraternity at the university. He worked as an accountant for the Tennessee Copper Company in Alcoa, TN and Magnavox Corporation in Greenville, TN. Ralph retired in 1987 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dairy Division with 37 years of service for the government. At his retirement, he was the Assistant Milk Market Administrator for the Tennessee Valley market, Nashville, TN market and the Louisville-Lexington, KY milk market. He was a member of the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church and was also an honorary member of the Williamson Chapel United Methodist Church near Maryville, TN. He was a member of the Brainerd Lions Club for over 40 years, the National Dairy Shrine and the Polio Heroes Club of Nashville and the Chattanooga-Cleveland area club. After his retirement he was a volunteer for 12 years with READ (Adult Reading Development) in Chattanooga. He was the son of the late Joseph A. and Nan Gillwater Garner and was also preceded in death by, his brothers, Joe, Owen, Albert and Lloyd; sisters, Nell Sharp and Elizabeth Hitch. Survivors include his wife, Hazel Stevens Garner; Daughter and her husband, Nancy and Dr. Charles Brice, Chattanooga; three sons, Joseph (Shelia) Garner, Chattanooga, Steven Garner and Alan Garner both of San Diego, CA; sister, Nannette McCall, Greenback, TN; several nieces and nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holston Methodist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 188, Greenville, TN or to the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 6314 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. Friday until the time of the service at the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway.