Joe Garner Obituary

Daddy, I miss you more, not less with each day. I'm so sorry you won't be with us to see all of our families grow and evolve because I know how much you wanted to do every thing in life you could possibly find time to do. Unfortunately, for us, time did run out and you left all of us behind to hold all the unbelievably wonderful times we had with you close in our hearts. I am grievously upset for your closest friends and especially your best friend,Mom. When will they ever again be so fortunate to know such a person as unique and wonderful as you. Remember the quote I gave to you after your buddy Craig Wall died, "the heart's sadness is in proportion to the amount of joy the friend has brought" or something of that nature. I had a lot of joy. Thank you for everything and especially thank you for letting me be me. Love, Your Japanese Princess, Mary Chris

Dr. Garner was a wonderful physician. Although, I did not know him personally, he always made me feel like he had known me for years at my eye exams. The last time I saw him was July of 2004. I had just had my daughter by c-section when I lost one of my contacts down the sink. I called Dr Garner's office and they got me in that day to see him. While examing my eyes he told me so many wonderful things about children and how blessed I was. He spoke so fondly and proudly of his children and grandchildren. I have had many opthamologists in my life since I began having eye problems at a young age. But never have I met one so considerate, thoughtful, nice and caring as Dr. Garner. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Dear Carolyn and Family,

It is with great sadness and schoch that we learn about your loss of Joe Frank. He was a great man and fun to be around and I now a wonderful brother-in-law to Joan and Fred. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.



With affection, Dannie and Don

Mary Chris and family,

You had such a great father. You are lucky to have had all the great memories. My thoughts are with you.

Dear Carolyn, Mary Chris, and family,

Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with you and we hope that your memories of Joe Frank will bring you much comfort and peace.

Fondly,

Ruth, Frank Gina & Andrew

We send our sincere sympathy. We were all so blessed to have shared the Citadel years and reunions with Joe Frank. He will be deeply missed. How happy Ken Welch, Jerry Wucher and other members of the 1957 Citadel class must have been to welcome Joe Frank home. God bless each one of you as you seek His comfort.

Carolyn, Mary Chris, Joe Frank and Greg:

It was only a week ago that I saw Dr. G and Mrs. Carolyn in the waiting room at a doctor's office. I was there with my mom and my two little girls. Although so many years have passed since our circle was together back in the Porter-Gaud days of carpooling and after school activities, I remember Dr. G so fondly, and your family will always hold a special place in the heart of mine. Know that no one who is really loved is ever really gone. With deepest sympathy, Michelle Demetre Ruopoli, Peter, Tula and Jim.

Dear Joe Frank,

Although years have passed since I left Charleston and Porter-Gaud School, I will always remember you fondly and I offer my condolences to you and your family. Your dad always brought a bit of "sunshine" with him when he visited the school. He was loved by many and will be missed. May God be with you and give you peace. Rich sends his best regards.

Nancy Davis Boss

One common thread among the gracious and beautiful words from friends, coworkers, patients and former classmates is the life long lessons that we have all learned from Joe Frank Garner III. I have known the Garner family for over 20 years, and the past 8, I have been married to the youngst of the Garner children. I have to say with all my being that I have been blessed to have been loved by such a man. Dr. Garner taught me what a family is all about. He was the leader of all the family dinners, the center of attention on Christmas morning gift giving, and a caregiver not only to those in his practice but to those in his company.

My father-in-law gave everything to everyone and loved life. He lived his life to the fullest and that is a lesson in itself. His three children will carry on the legacy that we loved him for. And as a mother of two of his grandchildren, I will teach my daughters what a hard working, compassionate, loving, and wonderful man their grandfather was.

Dear Carolyn and Joe Frank: Philip and Fredee join me in sending condolances and sympathy to all of you on the loss of your dear husband and father. We are so shocked by his passing! Only a few weeks ago did we spend 20 min talking about his China experiences and mine, just recently, at the West Ashley Post Office; and he wanted to go to Israel with me, too! Just can't believe it and know we will all miss him. What a delightful and sweet man he was.

Love,

Leah and Philip

I'll miss you, Joe.

Buddy Puckhaber, Class of '56

Dr. Garner was a very special man. He could make people laugh no matter what was happening. He was a man who always there when you needed someone. His patients loved him as much as we who worked for him did.... He will be missed....Jan Ogden - Optician

It was such a pleasure to get to know Dr. Garner since coming to work here. He was such a sweet man. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. He will be missed.

Dr G was a pleasure to work with and always had wonderful stories from long ago. There aren't many left like him and he will be awfully missed! I know there are many with fond memories and may his family always feel that support.

jme

I am truly saddened by the loss of this great man, Dr. Garner. My heart goes out to all of the family and especially my good friend Joe Frank (Jr.). Please accept my sincerest condolences and I apologize for living so far away and not being able to offer my personal support in your time of need.

Joe Frank was a fine Classmate and Good Friend. His leadership was evident and felt throughout our

Citadel Class. My sympathy to all in his family.

DR GARNER I AM SURE GOING TO MISS YOU. I WILL MISS EVERY MORING YOU SAYING DO I HAVE A TEC TODAY OF COURSE NOT.AND MISS BETTY TELLING YOU TO GO TO YOUR OFFICE.

Carolyn, Mary Chris, Joe Frank and Greg,



We are extremely saddened at the loss of Joe Frank. He welcomed us into your family with open arms. For that, we will always be grateful. His July 4th speeches made us laugh, made us cry, and made us think. He will truly be missed.

To Carolyn, Betty and Dr. Garner's Children and Grandchildren: You already know he was a great man with a smile and kind word or joke for everyone. This practice is the better for having him on our staff and the worse because he is gone and we can't replace him, neither in our hearts or our minds. Please know that he was loved and respected by many and that I am always praying for all of you. He is with God and the Pope. What better company is there??? And he can tell the Pope jokes now. Love and Prayers to you, Sally

'Docta Garner' Even though I couldn't make you a real Godsmack fan..... you were lots of fun to work with. Everyone loves you! And yes, I miss you already especially how you loved to give me a hard time with your charts. We will all miss your history lessons.

Love Godsmack

To Carolyn and family, We were so shocked and saddened by the news of Joe Frank's death. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.

Joe Frank was the dynamic catalyst who kept all of us who are members of our Citadel Class of 1957 in touch with each other, and it was he who principally arranged our excellent reunions for us and encouraged us all to be there. He knew all of us by name and made himself a good friend of each one of us. His death is a loss to us as a class which is deep and sad, and his loss is deeply personal to each one of us. I extend my sympathy to his wonderful family, and hope you know we all share your grief and loss. With love to you all.

We always had great conversation and considered him a good friend. I will miss him greatly.

Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow. We will miss Joe Frank and his camera at our family gatherings. Fourth of July will never be the same.



The Senior Luebchow's

Caroline, Mary Chris, Joe Frank and Greg: May you find great pride and comfort in knowing that your husband and father influenced the lives of so many people. He could shake hands with diplomats, or bounce a small child on his knee while reciting a nursery rhyme all with the same gracious and respectful manner. He was a true gentleman.

I knew Joe Frank in high School (Loris & Conway) classmates at the Citadel and Medical School. He was well loved by all classmates, especially since he did so much for our class of '57'. I was glad he volunterred in Haiti because that shows his compassion for others. I am very sorry to hear of his passing. He will be greatly missed.

I knew Joe Frank in Conway and at The Citadel. He later became our opthamologist. What a great personality! I regret that I never met any of his family.

My condolences to the family of Dr. Garner... I worked with Dr. Garner several years ago in Charleston, and I'm saddened to hear of his death

Joe Frank was one of the most genuine people I have ever known. I always looked forward to my annual eye exam knowing that I would surely hear one of the latest jokes going around. Sometimes we solved world problems as we talked but usually we just laughed and tried to remember our favorite "Amos and Andy" episodes. I am deeply saddened.

Carolyn, Mary Chris, Joe Frank and Greg-Please accept my deepest sympathy in you loss. My prayers will be with you. Love-Taffy

JOE FRAMK WAS A CLASSMATE AT THE CITADEL AND THE ONE MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SUCCESSFUL REUNIONS AND THE UNOFFICIAL "MC" AT ALL OF OUR EVENTS. HE WILL ME MISSED BY HIS CLASSMATES AS WELL AS HIS FAMILY AND MEDICAL FRIENDS.

Dear Carolyn,

We will never forget that night at the Yokota AB O'Club when we met that rowdy group from SC. We really felt like home got a little closer. Wish we could have gotten together more often. Our sympathies to you and the children. Cj & Frankie

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your loved one. As an employee of the SC Commission for the Blind, I've had the pleasure, and honor, of knowing Dr. Garner for many years. Although he has seen many of our clients and was a consultant to this agency, my most precious memory was an exam he did for my mother who was suffering from Alzheimers and refused to open her eyes. He was extremely patient with her and made sure she was comfortable throughout the exam, and that, in turn, made me feel better. The professional services he performed for so many, his wonderful sense of humor, his patience and kindness through the years have shown him to be a wonderful human being . We shall miss him dearly. Blessings to your family always. May you find comfort in knowing he is at rest in the arms of the Lord and will never be far from your heart.

I have never known anyone who meant so much, and who did so much, for so many. I was truly blessed to be able to call him "friend" for over 50 years. Joe Frank was truly a rare individual, loved and admired by so many. My entire family extends our heartfelt sympathy to Carolyn and the Garner family.

The bright light in our office is gone. I already miss your wonderful stories and jokes. I sang Dixie just for you!

We will always remember the wonderful stories told from the deck of his home on Sullivans Island every 4th of July. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Dr. Garner was a pleasure to work with. You could alway count on him to give you a laugh everyday. His most famous phrase at work was "I can't wait until tomorrow, because I get better looking everyday." We will truly miss our Dr. Garner, what a wonderful blessing he was to his patients and staff.

Joe Frank was my second cousin and I send my sincere sympathy to each member of his family. His grandfather Eustace Dusenbury and my mother Sadie Dusenbury Duke were siblings.

Carolyn, Jack and I are so sorry and deeply saddened. You and Joe Frank were good "summer" neighbors. Our hearts are with you and the family.

Dear Carolyn, My love and sympathy to you and your children. Joe Frank (Summer Wind) was a wonderful, happy and loving guy...and a great eye doctor. He will be missed greatly by all, especially you. My love, Helena