Thomas "Bill" H. Garretson

Thomas “Bill” H. Garretson, 81 of Crimora was called home by his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at a Shenandoah Nursing & Rehab Center. 2Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Born in Maryland on July 6, 1933, a son of the late Virginia Elizabeth and Thomas Garretson. In addition to his parents, preceded him in death were four sisters Helen, Jean, Doris, & Norma.

Bill loved good music, and he could cut the rug with the best of them. He was happiest on his tractor, and forever on the quest for the perfect tomato. He joined the Navy and paid cash for a 1957 black and white Ford when he came home. He was an Honorable Veteran of the Korean War. He served his country proudly as a Sea Bee in the U.S. Navy. He worked as a lineman for the C&P telephone company. He also spent many years in the lumber business. First a local hardware store, and then Vice President of a wholesale lumber Company. Bill semi-retired as a Master Electrician and owner of HopeCrest Mobile Home Park, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He loved the mountains.

Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Helen Gray Winstead Garretson; daughters, Helen Harman (David) of Waynesboro, Virginia , Katherine Hepstall (Timothy Glover) of Charleston, South Carolina, and

Peggy Nelson (Patrick) of Remington, Virginia; grandchildren, Bryant Hepstall (Beverly), Michael Hepstall, Christopher Martin (Cheryl), Matthew Hepstall, Elizabeth Harman Valero (Isaias), Rachel Nelson, Patrick T. Nelson; great grandchildren, Thomas, April, Cody, Mattea , Isaias, Christian, Caden; sister, Evelyn Garretson Watson (Laurie) of Hampton, Virginia ; brother-in- law, Warren Sears. His legacy lives on in the lives of his children and grandchildren.

A funeral service will be conducted at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2014 at Forest Chapel Church of the Brethren, 36 Crimora Mine Road, Crimora, Virginia 24431. Family will receive friends an hour prior to service, 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Burial will continue at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2015 at Culpeper National Cemetery, 501 E. Chandler St. Culpeper, Virginia, 22701 with Military Honors.

Active pallbearers include grandsons, Bryant Hepstall, Chris Martin, Matthew Hepstall, and Patrick Nelson; great grandson, Thomas Hepstall; special friend, Lee Thompson.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the physicians and staff at the University of Virginia Medical Center, Augusta Health, and Shenandoah Nursing and Rehab for all their kindness and care towards Bill and his family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Church of Redeeming Love and Fellowship, 186 Anne St., Shenandoah, Virginia, 22849, or the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories with the family online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com

Memories

large hands peeling potatoes for breakfast

black pickup truck

teaching me to drive a tractor

telling me I have a new baby sister

driving me to school

riding high on my Grandfather’s tractor

cantaloupe from the garden

Sunday rides on the boat

fish on the picnic table at the cottage

homemade ice cream

standing in his Mother’s kitchen

taking home movies

Christmas!

love of home grown tomatoes

smell of pipe tobacco

Old spice

work shirts with his name on the front

telling us the bunny died

being carried into the house half asleep

changing a tire

reading me the Bobsey Twins, when I broke my arm

pride in me as a teenager when I was never late for work

teaching me to have strong beliefs

long talks in the morning

car rides on summer evening

root beer

joy in the outdoors

sharing his blue cheese salads

vacations once a year

he and I alone right before he drove me to the church

helping me to understand my husband

making me feel as if I can do anything!

Memories of my Father

Written by Helen Garretson Harman

July 28, 2003