Walter George Garner Jr.

Walter G. Garner, Jr. known as “Walt” was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Walter G. Garner, Sr. and Annie B. Stewart Garner. His family moved to Medford, Oregon in 1949 and Walt graduated from Medford High School in 1955. He received a degree in business administration from the University of Oregon in 1959.

After college, Walt worked as a salesman in the family heavy construction equipment company, Cal-Ore Machinery until the sale of the company in 1972. Thereafter he continued sales for such other equipment companies as Hessel Tractor & Equipment Co., Clark Equipment Co., and Philpott-Close Equipment Co. After leaving the field of equipment sales he pivoted to the sale of real estate and enjoyed his career in this field for more than twenty years.

During the years as a salesman for Cal-Ore, Walt was called to serve in the Oregon Air National Guard and received an honorable discharge from this service in 1962 having earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After his military discharge, Walt moved to Vancouver, WA where he resided until the day of his death. He loved to travel back to his Medford, Oregon, and Pennsylvania homes but most of his life was enjoyed in Vancouver, Washington where the long list of his friends is too numerous to recount. His final days were spent at the memory care center of Cogir at the Quarry in Vancouver, Washington where he brightened the mood of his caregivers who were his last new friends.

Walt had two children who were the apples of his eye and who miss him terribly already. His daughter, Sarah G. Gustafson, and her husband James M. Gustafson, reside in Boulder City, Nevada. Sarah has two sons, Walt’s grandsons, Gordon Ottem married to Daesha Ottem and Conrad Ottem married to Cherish Ottem, who both reside in Colorado. Walt’s son David W. Garner and his wife Heather M. Garner reside in Newcastle, Washington. David and Heather have two sons, Zachary Garner and Thomas Garner who also reside in Newcastle, Washington. Walt is lucky enough to have two great-grandsons, Christian Garner, son of Zachary, and Neo Ottem, son of Conrad and Cherish Ottem.

Walt is predeceased in death by his parents, Walter G. Garner, Sr., and Annie B. Stewart Garner, stepmother BJ Larson Garner, and his sister Ann B. Culver. He is survived by a sister, Susan Gallino, and her husband Gary Gallino, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews who he dearly loved and by whom he was dearly loved.

His greatest joy came from worshipping the Lord, spending time with his family and friends, and enjoying nature through his love of fishing and hunting.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Walt’s life on January 12, 2025, at 11:15 am at Washington Grange #82 located at 7701 NE Ward Road, Vancouver, WA. A reception will be held at the Grange immediately following the service.