William Richard "Bill" Garton II

1933 - 2023

William Richard "Bill" Garton, II

September 28, 2023

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - William Richard Garton, II of Hilton Head, SC died after a short illness on September 28, 2023, surrounded by his loving children and life companion Sondra Burson.

William Richard Garton ("Bill") was born April 17, 1933, to Harold W Garton and Mary Garton (Merklee) in New Rochelle, NY. Bill was brother to older sisters Nancy Ellsworth of Marble Falls, TX and Marjorie Monski of Winter Haven, FL.

Bill is survived by his two children Betsy Garton Park (Kevin) of Fairport, NY and Hal Garton (Vicki) of Hoschton, GA. He was adored by his four grandchildren, Andrew Garton Park (Siobhan) and Katie Garton Park (Mike) and Rachael Garton Bond (Matt) and Sarah Garton, and great grandchild Cillian Kane Park.

Bill attended The Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ and was on the baseball, track, and football teams. Bill entered Princeton University in Princeton, NJ and was a member of the Tiger Inn, the fencing, baseball, and football teams and was the official Princeton Tiger mascot at all football games. Majoring in European History, Bill graduated from Princeton in 1955. He married Barbara Anne Reinhold in 1955.

After graduation, Bill fulfilled his ROTC commitment in Class 57-M, McAllen, Texas and became a USAF pilot. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant, flying four-engine C-54's from Goodfellow TX and Charleston, SC to Saudi Arabia and back for three years.

Following his serving in the Air Force, Bill began his career in industrial sales and started the Casting Techniques Corporation in Rochester, NY. Bill represented several foundries in the US and Canada and sold metal castings to manufacturers throughout New York and surrounding states.

Bill retired to Hilton Head in 1990 and was a regular volunteer with Meals On Wheels and Volunteers In Medicine. He also served as Pole Commander for the Beaufort County Elections Commission. Known to many as the "Film Czar", Bill presented 15 years of films, travelogues, and spirited discussions for The Friends Of The Library Film Series.

Following a divorce, Bill met his life's true love and life companion, Sondra Burson. In 2009 both Bill and Sondra sold their homes in The Plantation and moved to The Cypress, living one floor apart in the same building. They frequented the many events in and around The Cypress community and spent most of their days together over the past 23 years. Their love for each other knew no bounds.

Friends will be received at The Cypress Hall meeting room at The Cypress on Hilton Head Island from 2-4pm Saturday, November 4. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be sent to Volunteers In Medicine Clinic Hilton Head SC. Arrangements by The Island Funeral Home and Crematory.