Garry Bernard

Garry Stanton Bernard was called home to be with the Lord on July 24, 2025. Garry was born on July 12, 1935 to Paul and Caroline Bernard in Columbus, Ohio, and had just celebrated his 90th birthday.

Garry attended Upper Arlington High School in Upper Arlington, OH. In high school he enjoyed sports, playing basketball and competing in pole vaulting. In 1953 he received his Degree in Engineering at Ohio State University. After college, he was an officer in the Navy for 2 years where he met his lovely bride Betty in Long Beach, CA while away on leave. After his honorable discharge, they married in 1960 in Columbus, OH.

Garry worked at General Electric for over 20 years. While at GE he was transferred several times and finally ended up in Louisville, KY. In 1982 he started a business that he owned until he retired in 2010.

While in Louisville, he was invited to attend The Emmaus Walk, a 3 day Christian retreat. It was during this retreat that Garry became a Christ follower, and his life was forever changed. Garry and Betty started attending Southeast Christian Church. Out of love and devotion for his Savior, Garry started prayer groups; served as a deacon; served with Men helping Men, a men’s mentoring group; was active in Young Life, a Christian ministry focused on introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ; went on mission trips; and started a charitable organization that impacted the lives of hundreds of people. He had a passion for sharing Christ’s love and forgiveness with others.

Garry and Betty lived in Louisville, KY for 52 years until recently moving to Newburgh, Indiana in the fall of 2023.

In addition to his service to the Lord, Garry was an avid golfer and had his share of holes in one! If he wasn’t on the golf course, he was at a University of Louisville basketball games cheering on the Cardinals. He enjoyed having fun, had a unique sense of humor, and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He diligently studied the Word of God and enjoyed sharing his faith one- on-one or at his Men’s Bible study group. He also fervently prayed for friends in need.

He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Bernard; his daughters Leslie Bennett (Steve) of Bluffton, SC and Lynn Alling (John) of Newburgh Indiana; grandchildren Isaac Alling (Alicia), Lindsay Horst (Tim) and Aaron Alling (Abby); great grandchildren Theo Alling, Finley Alling, Grayson Horst and Wesley Horst; his sister, Nancy Whalen of Columbus Ohio; niece Pam Felix and nephew Ken Whalen. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Caroline Bernard of Columbus Ohio; his brother in law, Fred Whalen; his nephew Steven Whalen, and his niece’s husband, Greg Felix.

Though Garry struggled with Parkinson’s and Cancer here on earth, we are thankful that he is now with his Savior and Lord. While he served the Lord during his life, he will now spend eternity praising Him and enjoying His presence In heaven. What a joy that will be!

The service will be held at Chapel of the Woods at Southeast Christian Church (1407 Moser Road Louisville, KY 40299) on Friday August 1, 2025. Visitation is from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 1:00 p.m with burial to follow at Floydsburg Cemetery (5600 Old Floydsburg Road Crestwood, KY 40014).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Further Still Ministries.

To share a memory of Garry or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.