Charles W. Garner

Charles W Garner Charles W Garner, Independent Insurance Agent, was born and raised in Jacksonville, Texas to Ed and Mamie Garner on July 23, 1931. Charles attended the local schools, graduating from Jacksonville High School in 1947, graduated from Lon Morris College and came to Austin to attend the University of Texas in 1950. With the advent of the Korean War, Charles joined the United States Air Force in 1951 and spent his military career as a permanent party at the USAF Officer Candidate School. He was discharged in 1954 and returned to the University of Texas where he graduated in 1955 in the first class for Insurance Majors. On December 23, 1955, he married Carole Jean Litzman. Charles and Carole lived in Austin all these years and raised two children, Charles Jr. (Chuck) and Cara Jane, who have given them four grandchildren, Courtney and Christine Garner of Austin, and Caroline and Chase Giles of The Woodlands. Charles, Carole, Chuck and Cara spent many good times traveling throughout the United States and Canada in their travel trailer, enjoying the beauty of America and allowing the children to experience the sites of this great country. Charles joined his father and brother in the insurance business from 1955 to present. For over a half of a century they have served with companies such as the Aetna Casualty and Surety Co. and The Travelers. He spent much time serving on Agent Advisory Councils. In 1982, his son Chuck joined Charles in Garner & Associates. In 2002, Charles joined his good friend, Jim Whorton, to establish the Garner-Whorton Agency where he continued to serve in a semi-retired status. Charles served many years as an elected member of the Travis County Board. He served on the Board of Directors of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas from 1992 to 1995. As a member of Kiwanis where he was awarded the Outstanding Kiwanian of the year Award in 1959 and in 1991 he was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the independent Insurance Agents of Austin where he served as President in 1984. Charles is survived by wife Carole of 57 years of marriage, son Chuck, and wife Paula, granddaughters Courtney and Christine Garner; daughter Cara Jane Giles and husband Gary and grandchildren, Caroline and Chase Giles; sisters Betty Sue Marinis of Midland, Texas, and Mary Louise Muirhead of Memphis, Tennessee. Charles, Carole and family have been active members if the Memorial United Methodist Church since 1957 where they both served in various capacities over the years. Charles requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin, Texas 78723 Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock until seven o'clock in the evening, on Tuesday, the 30th of April 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. A memorial service will be conducted at 12 o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 1st of May 2013, at Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman Drive, Austin, Texas 78723. Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com