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Charles William "Bill" Garner, 85, of McElhattan, passed from our hands into God's hands on the evening of Nov. 4, 2024.
Born April 18, 1939, in Pine Grove Mills, Pa., he was the son of the late Adam Krumerine Garner and Blanche Gearhart Garner.
He attended Ferguson Township school where he was introduced to playing the baritone horn and graduated as class president of State College High School in 1957. He played baritone in the band and lettered in baseball and football.
After a short stint at Pennsylvania State University, Bill joined the U.S. Navy in January 1959. He played baritone for the Navy boot camp band, and completed fleet sonar school at Western Pacific Fleet Command in San Diego. He served on the carrier U.S.S. Randolph, flying helicopter squadron rescue and reconnaissance missions in the Caribbean and along the eastern U.S. seaboard, including exercises held during the height of the Russian-Cuban Missile Crisis and the search for, and deterrence of, Russian submarines. He attained the rank of E-4 Petty Officer and was honorably discharged in December 1962 after four years of service, following debilitating injury to his spine aboard the ship.
Bill was married to the love of his life, Karyl Jane Packer, on Sept. 8, 1962, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Pine Grove Mills.
He went on to earn a Bachelor's of Science in Business Education in 1965, a Master's of Education in Higher Education in 1968 and a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Vocational Industrial Education in 1974 from Pennsylvania State University.
Bill was a business director in the Psychology department of Pennsylvania State University. Later he was a professor for Southern Illinois University at March Air Force Base in Riverside, Calif., as well as at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky., and Fort Knox.
For the bulk of his career, he was a professor and a dean, where he directed dissertations in the Graduate School of Education at Rutger's University in New Brunswick, N.J. He was bestowed the title of Professor Emeritus in recognition of 28+ years of distinguished service to the university.
Bill was an accomplished author of numerous published textbooks on the topic of non-profit and governmental fund accounting and budgeting, business and finance, and co-authored a series of textbooks on automotive service management with his son. Additionally, he owned and operated a professional consultancy firm, a horse farm and a full-service automotive garage at various points in his life.
In his free time, Bill enjoyed playing golf, tending to his yard and plants, telling stories from his time in the Navy, researching family genealogy, traveling, boating, watching baseball and football, birdwatching, battling squirrels from eating his bird food and tending bar. During retirement he resurrected his love for playing the baritone, and joined the Central Pennsylvania Community Band and the Encore Band of R.M. Sides Music Store.
He was a church member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jersey Shore. He was a member and later Exalted Ruler of the B.P.O.E. Lodge #1600 in State College. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution-Tiadaghton Chapter, as well as the Disabled American Veterans.
Bill is survived by his loving wife and soulmate of over 62 years, Karyl Garner, of McElhattan; his son Ronald Adam Garner and wife, Cindy, of Lock Haven; and his daughter, Juliet (Garner) Meehan and husband, Bob, of Perkasie, Bucks County. His sister Helen Garbrick, of State College, also survives him.
Additionally, he is survived by his four grandchildren, Steven William Garner, and his wife, Taylor, of Harrisburg, Jessica (Garner) Villegas, and her husband, Jason, of Kapolei, Hawaii, Rachel Karyl Garner, of Lock Haven, and Kevin Adam Garner, of Williamsport. Lastly, he is survived by his four great-grandchildren, Audrey, Millie and Jaxon Villegas, of Kapolei, Hawaii, and three-week-old Josephine Wilhelmina Garner, of Harrisburg.
His family will always fondly remember his warm spirit, endless nurturing love and fostered teaching, as he showed all of us the way, in all pursuits of life. We will forever cherish and hold dear his memory in all of our hearts and minds.
May God rest the soul of this old sailor on his last voyage out to sea.
Graveside services will be led by Pastor Aucher at Pine Hall Cemetery, on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, located on the 1700 Block of West College Avenue, State College.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com