Obituary of Dr. Walton Richard Garner

WALTON RICHARD “DICK” GARNER, M.D., age 82, of Columbus, Ohio and the Villages, Florida died peacefully at home on Sunday, December 9, 2018 with his wife Marilynn (McLain) at his side.  

The son of Walton and Thelma Garner, Dick was born on August 18, 1936 in Columbus, Ohio.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Lorelei Reppas (Ted).

He was a 1954 graduate of South High School in Columbus.  He completed his undergraduate studies at Capitol University and his medical degree at The Ohio State University.  Thereafter, he was board certified in Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine and Preventive Medicine.  He also completed a Masters in Administrative Medicine. 

He served as a medical missionary in New Guinea.  Dick loved the Lord and served the church for many years at many locations, including Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church (Hilliard, Ohio) and New Covenant United Methodist Church (The Villages, Florida).       

Dick served in the Ohio Air National Guard as a flight surgeon during the Vietnam Era and served a tour of duty in Korea attaining the rank of Major.  Following his military service, he continued as a flight surgeon for the astronauts of the Apollo program where, among other events, he was the flight surgeon who grounded Ken Mattingly during the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission.  

Following his time at NASA, Dick continued his medical practice at Ohio State (Student Health Center and Head of Preventive Medicine), Ohio Bell Telephone (Corporate Medical Director) and a number of other challenging positions spanning many decades. 

But none of his professional accomplishments compared with Dick’s 51-year marriage to Marilynn.   Marilynn and Dick raised five children together:  Andrea Christgau (Jim), David (Kathy), Rich (Renee), Susan Fallon (Patrick) and Robert (Jen).  Together, their children provided them with fifteen grandchildren:  (Andrea and Jim) Zachary (married Fallon), Alyssa, Garrett; (Susan and Patrick); Thomas, Mac; (Rob and Jen); Grant, Riley, Emma, Robert (Will), Joely; (David and Kathy) Jacob (married Liz), Megan; (Rich and Renee) Lauren, Madeline and Jack.  Their first great-grandchild, Cora (Zachary and Fallon) arrived just after Dick departed.  

Dick also enjoyed years of love with many nieces and nephews—the sons and daughters of Lorelei and Ted, and Jackie and Bud Biemesderfer (Marilynn’s sister). 

Dick held a pilot’s license for many years.  He was an avid Ohio State fan.  He had a community of friends from across the country including Columbus, Houston, Cleveland, Rockford (Ill.) and The Villages.  Among these were a special group of bridge club friends and community theatre relationships.       

Throughout his life, Dick also surrounded himself and his family with many loved pets—especially dogs (Jo, Tobey, Sam, Nellie, Weezer and Woody).  

A committal service with military honors will be held on Friday, February 1, 2019 at 11 am, located at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. Please meet at the cemetery. A memorial service will follow on the same day at 2 pm, located at New Covenant United Methodist Church, 3470 Woodridge Dr, The Villages, FL 32162.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to The American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/.

Online condolences may be sent at hiers-baxley.com. Arrangements under the care of Hiers-Baxley Funeral and Cremation Life Event Center, The Villages.