Garber, Raymond Wilbur (1905-1988)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 19 Jan 1989 p. 11

Birth date: 1905 Aug 18

text of obituary

RAYMOND WILBUR GARBER

Raymond Wilbur Garber was born Aug. 18, 1905, in Garden City, Mo , to Joseph and Bessie Kenagy Garber.

In his youth, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior, was baptized and joined Bethel Mennonite Church in Garden City. Later he transferred his membership to Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church in Garden City, the Alpha (Minn.) Church and Glennon Heights Mennonite Church in Lakewood, Colo. He was an active church member throughout his life.

When he was 14, he and his family moved to Cheraw, Colo. As a young man, he worked in the harvest fields in North Dakota, where he met his future brothers-in-law.

He married Beulah Hartzler in Garden City on June 18, 1930. After living in Colorado Springs, Colo., for two years, they moved to Missouri to farm. In 1945 they moved to Alpha, Minn., where he was a dairy farmer for 25 years. In 1970 they retired and moved to Lakewood, Colo., where he worked for Agricultural Ditch Co. of Jefferson County until his health began to fail in April 1988.

He was a dedicated father and enjoyed being with his family. He also developed some deep personal relationships with co-workers and in his church.

His favorite hobby was fishing. He also enjoyed gardening, maintaining his vehicles and volunteering. He was fond of music and encouraged his children to become involved in musical activities.

He died Sept. 6, 1988. Survivors include his wife, Beulah; three children, JoAnn (Mrs. Melvin) Jantz and Ron and his wife, Verlene, all of Lakewood and Larry and his wife, Millie, of Alpha, Minn.; four grandchildren; and a brother, Rollie Garber of Phoenix, Ariz.

Funeral services were held Sept. 8, 1988, at Glennon Heights Mennonite Church, with Ross T. Bender officiating. Interment was at Crown Hill Cemetery.