William Garner

He was an only child. His family moved to Tyler in east Texas when he was 4 or 5 years old.

He met his lifelong love, Rosemary Dellinger, at Sunday school when they were just SIX years old! Officially started parent-supervised dating when they were about 13 or 14 years old.

One summer, Buddy (14 yrs old) was invited to the Dellinger summer compound at Cedar Lake in Minnesota to visit Rosemary. He went by train and was met by her in St Paul at 7am by streetcar. Dropping off his luggage at Aunt Marjorie's, they hopped the streetcar to Minneapolis to enjoy the big amusement park. Then, it was off to Cedar Lake in Gay's car (Rosemary's mother) for a couple of weeks swimming and fishing. He also helped John (Rosemary's father) build a patio, brick by brick.

Another summer trip, Buddy's parents took the young couple to Mary Meade Resort in Kerrville, TX to spend some days swimming and fishing - again!

They attended John Tyler High School where he held positions of senior class president and football team manager. He would walk Rosemary to her classes and still get to his mostly on time. They played tennis in the neighborhood park, went to movies, and had Friday night parties with friends. Buddy worked at his father's company, East Texas Photocopy, where he earned the money to buy his girlfriend a gardenia every Friday.

After graduation, he attended Rice University and then transferred to UT Austin where he graduated in 1951 with an Electrical Engineering Bachelor's Degree, followed by a Master's Degree in same field.

Rosemary went to Middlebury College in Vermont for two years. She missed Buddy and transferred to UT Austin, too! They married on March 25, 1951 in Tyler and celebrated their 68th anniversary this year!

While Rosemary stayed home trying to keep their FOUR children in line, Buddy began his business life by starting his own company, Applied Research Associates (ARA), making water temperature thermometers. ARA evolved into a very successful water quality monitoring instrument design and manufacturing company, renamed Hydrolab Corporation. All his children worked there alongside their dad. Hydrolab was a well-respected international company that the family ultimately sold in 1997.

With the company sold and time on his hands, Buddy and Rosemary began traveling the world. They visited many of the European countries, along with Australia, New Zealand, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Russia, Scandinavia, China, Panama, the Caribbean, and probably more! They even lived in Paris for a short time learning French.

They spent most of their adult life living in Austin, but also lived in Atlanta, GA; Hilton Head, SC; Wimberley, TX; and Panama. That's Panama City, Panama! Hilton Head was a favorite with the family! They also hosted many fun family reunions that included their many nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, who will sorrowfully miss her very best friend; his children, Bo Garner; Stuart Garner and wife Rose; Sally Garner; Sam Garner & wife Martha. Grandchildren are Eric Garner; Emily Garner; GW Hill & wife Alyssa; Gemma Champagne & husband Dan; Garrett Garner & wife Kim; Hayden, Trevor & Logan Garner; Amy Gayhart & fiance Brandon Weck; and Carl Gayhart. Great grandchildren are Sam, Carson & Darby Champagne. Also surviving him are nieces and nephews Vivian & Joe McWilliams; Nancy & Brian Spence; Patty & Sid Roberts; Ray & Donna Dellinger; Jim & Amy Dellinger; Vicki Dellinger; and their families.