Janet Ruth Garrison

Janet Ruth Garrison, age 92 passed away quietly at Querencia nursing home in Austin, TX, in the company of her long-term caregiver, Della Barron. Janet was born in Newark, NJ and graduated from Bound Brook High school and New Jersey College for Women (1940) with a degree in Library Science.

She served as Regional Librarian with the Special Services Section of the Frankfurt Military Post, Frankfurt, Germany in 1946-47 and joined the American Graves Registration Command, European Area as Special Services Staff Librarian at the Paris, France headquarters in 1947. She was an avid photographer and her assignment to the bookmobile enabled her to document much of the war’s devastation of the area.

Upon returning to the States, she moved to Washington, DC where she met and married Dale Emil Garrison in 1951. Mr. Garrison received his MA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins in 1952 and in 1956 the couple relocated to Saudi Arabia where Mr. Garrison worked in government relations for the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco) in Riyadh, Dhahran and various locations along the Trans-Arabian Pipeline, as well as and Beiruit, Lebanon. During her time in the Middle East, Janet was employed as Librarian for several girls’ schools and enjoyed their many years of world traveling and exploring other cultures.

The Garrisons chose Austin, Texas as their retirement home in 1977. They were active in the First Presbyterian Church and Janet was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an educational philanthropic organization for women. Janet was a long-time supporter of the arts and many charitable causes in Austin.

Janet was predeceased by her husband, Dale Emil Garrison in 1989 and her sister, Virginia Stelzle Spurry in April 2010. She is survived by niece Nancy Jean Spurry of Denver, CO, nephew David Charles Spurry of Albuquerque, NM, and sister-in-law Linda Garrison (Esther).

A Memorial service will he held at 3:00 pm on Saturday July 17, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church 8001 Mesa Drive, Austin with a reception immediately following at the church narthex.

In lieu of flowers: contributions may be made to Children International PO Box 219055, Kansas City, MO 64121 (www.children.org), Best Friends Animal Society 5001 Angel Canyon Road Kanab, Utah 84741-5000 (435) 644-2001 (www.bestfriends.org ), or the First Presbyterian Memorial Fund 8001 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78731.