Kenneth Wayne Garner

On Saturday, December 22, 2012, Kenneth Wayne Garner died quietly in his sleep in Austin, Texas. He was born in Magnolia, Arkansas on March 1, 1940 to Roland Kirk Garner and Billie Jean Garner. His family moved to Velasco, Texas in 1941. He graduated from Brazosport High School in 1958, married Linda Jo Spillers on December 22, 1961, and graduated from Lamar Tech University in 1963. After graduation, he went directly into the U.S. Army Reserve Program. Upon his return to the Brazosport, Texas area, he began his career with The Dow Chemical Company and was hired as one the first employees in its Information Systems Department in 1964. He managed various technical groups within the department and became departmental manager in the mid 1970’s. In 1985, he transferred to Dows corporate headquarters in Midland, Michigan. While in Midland, he developed and led a group in formulating global information systems architecture. Wayne was Dow’s first information systems technical architect. He retired in 1997 and returned to the Brazosport area. He enjoyed his work and managed to have a great balance between work and family. His life was filled with sporting activities, whether playing, coaching, or watching his sons play sports all over the United States. Rather than spend his vacations on a beach or a mountain, Wayne spent most of his vacations at a baseball stadium somewhere in the country. During those years, the family developed many lasting friendships that will always be precious. Wayne was a member of First Baptist Church in Lake Jackson, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Midland, and, at the time of his passing, Hays Hills Baptist Church in Buda, Texas. Wayne served each church in many different roles, such as an outreach leader, Sunday school teacher, and committee member. Faith and trust in God were always first and foremost to him. He lived his life as a wonderful example for his three sons and his wife. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Linda Garner, of Austin; his mother, Billie Griffin, of Lake Jackson, Texas; his sons Kevin Garner of Austin, Coby Garner of Austin, and Cory Garner of Dallas; his daughter-in-law Michelle Garner of Austin; and his grandchildren Sydney Garner, Carson Garner, and Caleb Garner, the children of Coby and Michelle Garner. Preceding him in death were his daughter, Amy Elizabeth Garner; his father, Roland Kirk Garner; his stepfather, William W. Griffin; his father- and mother-in-law, Perry and Alice Spillers; and his sister-in-law Bette McCoy. The family will host a memorial service at Restwood Funeral Home (1038 West Plantation Drive) in Lake Jackson on Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 in the morning. Visitation will follow immediately afterward. Services are under the direction of Restwood Funeral Home, Clute, Texas, (979) 297-2121.