Mark Dwight Garlow

Mark was born on May 19, 1958 in Altus, OK to Maurice “Whitey” and Anna “Gerri” (Bourland) Garlow. He grew up a military brat before his parents settled in Austin, TX for his junior high and high school years, where he graduated from Anderson High School in 1976. He received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1980 and commissioned as an Officer. On December 27th, 1980, he married Jo Lynn Priester. They raised one son, Ryan, and one daughter, Holly. In 2004, he settled in Destin, Florida and on October 16th, 2010, he married Barbara Hebert.

Mark had a distinguished career in the Air Force retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after 22 years of service and earning Command Navigator Wings. Mark started his Air Force career sitting nuclear alert with the B-52 in Strategic Air Command at Dyess AFB, TX and as an initial qualification instructor at Castle AFB, CA. From there, he was selected to the prestigious Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, CA where he graduated from class 87B. Upon completion of Test Pilot School, Mark was instrumental in the B-1 and B-2 test programs. The next set of assignments would see Mark at Space Command at Peterson AFB, CO; Seek Eagle at Eglin AFB, FL; and then his final assignment at the Pentagon where he was serving on September 11, 2001 during the terrorists attacks. Upon retirement, Mark continued to serve his nation through contract support in the weapons test arena, in particular the F-35, before fully retiring in the Spring of 2020.

Mark had a passion for boating, watching sports, cooking, and barbecue. He was known for his gentle, kind nature, his humility, empathy, and his loving spirit. He played the trumpet as part of the United States Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps, was an avid runner, swimmer, and cyclist, and participated in many marathons and triathalons. Mark was also renowned for his incredible Dad Jokes. He loved Jimmy Buffet, ZZ Top, Chicago, classic Texas country music, and Bud Light. He adored spending time with his children and grandchildren on the beach and out on the water.

Mark was preceded in death by his mother Gerri and his father Whitey. Mark is survived by his wife Barbara (Hebert) Garlow, his children, Ryan (Ashley) and Holly, the mother of his children, Jo Lynn Garlow, his two step-sons, Jason Hebert (Tina) and Josh Hebert (Courtney) and his five grandchildren, Jude, Waylon, Jack, Harrison and Stella.

A casual memorial service will be held at The Gulf on Saturday, October 10th, 2020 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida at 3 pm. The Gulf is located at 1284 Marler Ave., FWB, FL, 32547 and food & drinks will be available.

A funeral service will be held at the Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs on Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 1 pm. If you do not have access to the Air Force Academy, please contact Ryan at [email protected] or Holly at [email protected] for information on how to obtain access. A social gathering will also follow the service.

A viewing will take place at Swan Law Funeral Directors on Thursday, October 15th, 2020 from 4-6pm. The address is 501 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

If you're visiting from out of town, we recommend staying at The Hampton Inn & Suites where other friends and family will be staying. It is located at 1307 Republic Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80921.