Charles Donald Garrison

Charles Donald Garrison

Charles Donald "Donnie" Garrison, 67, passed away Thursday, June 3, 2010, at his home in Earlysville, Virginia, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Marie Garrison and his grandparents.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Fay H. Garrison; his father, Morgan Marvin Garrison of Whitehall, Virginia; his daughter, Wendi Garrison; his grandson, Brandon Garrison and a sister, Tammy Coleman.

Donnie is also survived by his aunts and uncle, Fay Gibson and her husband, Cecil, and Mrs. Christine Ward; special cousins, Debra Shelton and her husband, Johnny, Linda Wolfrey and her husband Larkin, Robin Walton and her husband, Jeff, Tony Gibson and his wife, Cindy, Linda Leake and her husband, Meredith; Harold Ward and Gary Shifflet.

After graduating from Albemarle High School, he served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.

Donnie received a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree from the University of Tennessee, a Masters of Criminal Justice and Corrections degree from the University of Iowa.

During the early 1970's he began his law enforcement career with the Charlottesville City Police Department. From there, he joined the Albemarle County Sheriff's Department and became the first Juvenile Resource Officer. During the 1980's, he was certified as a criminal Justice Instructor and presented lectures at PVCC. In later years, he was a fraud investigator with Orange County Social Services Department. At the time of his retirement he was employed with Airport Road Auto Center.

Donnie met a stranger, always wore a smile and was quick to share a joke. During his childhood years, he attended Mount Moriah United Methodist Church. For the past 10 years, he attended Ivy Creek United Methodist Church and enjoyed playing his guitar for his church family.

He was a skilled hunter and fisherman, always demonstrating respect for the wildlife and the environment. He loved the beauty and peacefulness of the mountains. Since childhood his love of baseball and the New York Yankee's along with the Washington Red Skins gave him much enjoyment. In addition, he had a great love for his four legged friends, especially "Charlie".

Special thanks to Dr. William Grosh, Janelle Baldwin, Nurse Practitioner and the nurses in the University of Virginia Health System Infusion Center. Also, special care givers form the Hospice of the Piedmont, Mary Dillon, Marty Neff-Smith, Nan Robertson, Suzanne Wentworth and Judy Croswell.

The family will receive friends from 4 until 5 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2010, at Teague Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at Ivy Creek United Methodist Church, 11 a.m. Monday, June 7, 2010, with Pastor Jim Thornton officiating, followed by interment at the Mount Moriah Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make memorial contributions to the Hospice of the Piedmont, 645 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911, Earlysville Volunteer Fire Department, 283 Reas Ford Road, Earlysville, VA 22936 or Ivy Creek United Methodist Church, 674 Woodlands Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Friends may sign a guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.