William ‘Bill’ Garner
Bill returned home to Anna on Sept. 16, 2024, after leaving 67 years ago.
Born in Anna on Dec. 22, 1938, to Ed and Helen Garner, Bill spent his early years helping out on the family farm. His chores included picking vegetables, oftentimes at sunrise and before school.
He and his brothers never missed a Sunday church service at Big Creek Baptist Church.
The work ethic he learned as a child would lay the foundation for his future professional and personal successes.
He played football in high school and was described as a kid who “wasn’t big, but scrappy.”
Bill left Anna in 1958 to join the military. After his training, he was deployed to Germany. This is where he met his future wife Ursula in 1960. It was here in 1964 that Bill and Ursula gave birth to their first-born son of the same name, Billy.
During his six-year U.S. Army career, Bill learned and excelled at computer programming. During this time in Columbia, South Carolina, Bill and Ursula welcomed their second son, Bobby, to their growing family in 1965.
After his discharge from the Army, he was hired by Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he furthered his computer skills. His love of service brought him back to the Department of Defense, and in 1970 he was deployed once again to Germany.
He would spend the next 24 years in Germany, working his way into leadership positions and eventually into senior management. After retiring from a 32-year government career, Bill wasn’t quite done working yet. He established the first Edward Jones office in his adopted hometown of The Villages, Fla.
After a successful six-year journey into the financial services industry, Bill decided it was time to retire. Since his retirement in 2001, he has kept himself busy, sharing time with his friends and family. He particularly loved playing golf, dancing with his wife, and playing bridge.
He was very fond of his three granddaughters, whom he loved and encouraged. The last 18 months of Bill’s life were marked by a rapid decline in his cognitive abilities, though he never forgot about the ones he loved.
His closest family and the ones who cared for him to the end will not forget the words they heard each time he saw them: “Let’s Go.”
Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ursula; his two sons, Billy (Sonia) Garner of Lady Lake, Fla., and Bobby (Lisa) Garner of Austell, Ga.; three granddaughters, Ashton of Kennesaw, Ga., Maddie of Tucson, Ariz., and Sara of Wellington, New Zealand; and his four brothers, Ron (Janice) Garner of Anna, Mike (Beverly) Garner of The Villages, Fla., Bruce (Diane) Garner of Kimberling City, Mo., and John (Denise) Garner of Anna; numerous nieces and nephews; extended family and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. William “Bill” Garner were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.
Interment was in Casper Cemetery near Anna, with military rites conducted by Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 of the VFW in Anna.Masonic rites were held at 1:45 p.m.
Memorials can be made to the Casper Church Cemetery Flower and Flag Fund. Make checks payable to Edward Jones.
To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna was in charge of arrangements.