William O. Garner, military veteran, milkman and beloved family patriarch, died May 13, 2012 at his home in Glendale, Ariz. He was 92. Born June 16, 1919 as a true “Okie from Muskogee” in Webbers Falls, Okla., William – known as Bill – moved with his family to Arizona at the age of 16. He joined the Army during World War II and served until his honorable discharge as a corporal in January of 1946. Stationed on Afognak Island in Alaska during his military tenure, Bill worked in a sawmill providing lumber for extensive wartime construction. His tasks with a saw blade provided housing for fellow service members freezing in the Aleutian Islands, and exemplified the selfless work ethic he modeled throughout his life. Three months after the end of his military service, Bill married Alma Eberly. The two wed in Ohio, forming a union that lasted 57 years, and made their permanent home in Glendale, Ariz. The couple had four daughters, each of whom Bill affectionately nicknamed “punk’” – for “pumpkin” – and for whom he ensured a breakfast of bacon and eggs was ready every Sunday morning before church. During a career in the dairy industry, Bill worked as a milkman for several companies – including Webster and Meadow Gold – but most fondly remembered his time with Shamrock Farms. For many years, his route involved delivering milk and ice cream to schools and restaurants. His own sweet tooth – when not curbed by his loving wife – gave him a fondness for cookies and ice cream, and he regularly whipped up homemade batches of the latter for family gatherings and celebrations. In his later years, Bill showed a vigor and vitality beyond his age, staving off aches and pains to chop wood for the fireplace, hang Christmas lights on the roof and play with an ever-increasing pack of energetic grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When relaxing, he enjoyed watching on television the Arizona Diamondbacks, gun-blazing westerns and stories that stemmed from the town of Mayberry. It also was not uncommon for him to sing an old cowboy tune – a particular favorite in recent days being “The Strawberry Roan.” Bill was a man of abiding faith who trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He was a member of Grace Brethren Church on Bethany Home Road in Phoenix for nearly 40 years, and later attended Bethany Bible Church. He also worked and volunteered at Grace Christian School for many years, and he and Alma frequently opened up their home and lives to numerous missionaries and others needing respite or residence. Bill’s nurturing heart, tenacious grit and humble, loving character will be missed, but remembered. He was preceded in death by Alma in 2003 and is survived by his four daughters, Sharon Emerling of Phoenix, Sharla Jamison of Sand Springs, Okla., Judy Carpenter of Fairbanks, Alaska and Janice Armstrong of Glendale; a sister, Lester Warren of Kearny, Ariz.; 18 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Survivors also include Rose, Bill’s constant canine companion and a Chihuahua who has eaten more than her weight in affectionately given table scraps. A visitation will be held Friday, May 18, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at West Resthaven Funeral Home, located at 6450 W. Northern Ave. in Glendale. A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Bethany Bible Church, located at 6060 N. 7th Ave. in Phoenix. A reception will follow.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5