Garner Franklin Klair

Garner Franklin Klair, 101, passed away Sept. 15, 2016, at Elmcroft of Martinsburg.

Born May 22, 1915, in Columbia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late John and Mary Klair.

He was a 1936 graduate of Millersville State Teacher’s College, Pennsylvania. He taught math and industrial arts at Glen Burnie High School, Maryland, from 1936 to 1958. There he met a beautiful home economics teacher, Ruth Grier, whom he was married to for 38 years, until her death in 1978.

Upon retirement from his Nationwide Insurance business, he remarried and he and his wife, Lois, moved to Leesburg, Florida.

He was a very caring man who loved his family dearly. He played the piano, accordion, harmonica, enjoyed woodworking and whittling, and played tennis until he was 91-years-old.

In 2010, he moved to Martinsburg to be near his two daughters, Susan Bucey and husband, Jerry, of Shepherdstown and Sally Thomas and husband, Ray, of Martinsburg. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Eric, Mindy (Yard) and Scott Bucey and their families, Dylan and Evan Thomas and their families; and his sister, Dorothy McGinness.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Groome; and sister-in-law, Elinore Grier.

Reaching the milestone of 100 years was very exciting for him. He counted the days until the “2nd anniversary of his 50th birthday.”

A memorial service will be held at Deer Creek United Methodist Church Forest Hill, Maryland, at a later date. Donations may be made to the Salvation Army or Hospice.

Online condolences may be offered at www.BrownFuneralHomesWV.com.