Mrs. Garnet Hartong

GARNET KATHLEEN WESTFALL HARTONG of Mabelvale, joined her beloved husband in heaven on Saturday, March 5th, 2022. Born in Akron, Ohio, on February 1, 1927, to Isaac and Estella Miller Westfall, she was preceded in death by her parents, sister, two brothers and her husband of 55 years, Ernie.

A graduate of Manchester High School in Manchester, Ohio, Garnet had a lengthy career as a secretary, bookkeeper, and executive assistant. She worked for Northwest Schools and later became the executive assistant to the owners of RJS Corporation in Akron, working there until her retirement. After she and Ernie retired and moved to Arkansas, she was an avid volunteer for several organizations until coming out of retirement in her eighties to work for St. Vincent Infirmary, first in the gift shop and later as a secretary.

Garnet had a passion for helping others as reflected in her life of service. She devoted many hours to the Red Cross and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she worked in the gift shop and headed the ACH Auxiliary Card Project for several years. She was twice awarded the Volunteer of the Year award by the ACH Auxiliary. She was an active member of Asbury UMC, where she and Ernie renewed their vows on their 50th wedding anniversary, and a longtime member of the Robert Moore, Win One, and New Directions Sunday School Classes over her time there.

Garnet would tell you her greatest accomplishment and joy was her family. She was a devoted Mom, Grandma, and Gigi to her son, Ernest Hartong, Jr. and wife Barbara, her daughter Marjorie Wagner and son-in-law Dr. Charles Wagner, grandchildren Chad Wagner (Kristen), Stacie Herlihy (Tom), Erin Sogal (Sham), and Sarah Klare (Andy), and her eight great-grandchildren, Evy Wagner, Scarlett and Wesley Herlihy, Sani, Avi, and Pari Sogal, and Matthew and Benjamin Klare, who all survive her.

A memorial service celebrating Garnet’s life will be held at Pinecrest Funeral Home, 7401 AR-5 N, Alexander AR, on Thursday, March 10, at 2:00PM, with visitation preceding the service beginning at 1:00PM. Rev. Tom Weir will officiate.

Memorials may be made to the Asbury UMC Endowment Fund, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pinecrestfh.com for the Hartong family.