Samuel Kay Garwig

Loving Husband, Wonderful Father and Grandfather, Dear Friend

Samuel Kay Garwig, 78, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. He died at his residence after a brief illness surrounded by his loving wife and family. Sam was born on April 21, 1935 in Ellwood City, Pa., to Homer and Helen (Boyer) Garwig. He moved to Harborcreek in 1947, where he lived for the remainder of his life. A 1953 graduate of Harbor Creek High School, Sam joined General Electric as an apprentice and retired in 1991 after 38 years of service. He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn (Beard) on August 4th, 1956. Sam and Marilyn were blessed with five children, fourteen grandchildren, and a wonderful marriage.

Sam was an accomplished pen and ink artist, drawing numerous buildings and points of interest from around the Erie area. He enjoyed bowling and bowled a 300 game and 800 series. He was also a Pennsylvania Class C horseshoe champion. A four letter athlete in high school, he later completed three Presque Isle Marathons and numerous 10 K races. Sam was a sports fan and was a walking encyclopedia on sports trivia. He thoroughly enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also enjoyed being in the crowd and cheering on his children and grandchildren. Sam was an avid gardener and meticulously cared for his vegetable garden and 80 rose bushes. He generously shared the fruits of his labors with family, friends, neighbors and the food pantry. In his retirement Sam enjoyed sharing stories over coffee every morning with several of his friends from GE. He also loved cycling, watching old movies and 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles, but his family was the crown jewel in his life.

Besides his parents, Sam was preceded in death by his brother, William Garwig, and his mother and father-in-law, Winnie and Leroy Beard. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marilyn; five children, Gary Garwig (Lanay), Darrell Garwig (Sharon), Lisa Baronner (Tim), Leslie Faipler (Dave) and Mary Barnes (Jack); and fourteen grandchildren, Bernie, Joe and Sam Garwig, Joe and Meridith Bundy, Jeremy, Josh and Jonah Baronner, Alyssa, Dana and Brian Faipler, and Daniel, Luke and Grace Barnes. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Maryann Garwig, and brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Linda Beard, nieces Christy Britton, Debbie Capullo and Anne Linkimer, and nephews, Bill Garwig, Jr. and Steve Beard.

Friends may call at Dusckas Funeral Home, 2607 Buffalo Road, on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church on Monday at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the John R. Kanzius Foundation or Our Lady of Mercy Church. To send condolences, visit www.dusckasfuneralhome.com.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits