Joseph "Billy" Garner

Joseph “Billy” Garner, 90, a native of Baldwin County and resident of Fairhope for over 87 years passed away December 1, 2017.  He was born June 14, 1927 in Bay Minette, Alabama.  He is predeceased by his parents, Andrew Jackson and Martha Ann Della Brown Garner, as well as his older siblings, Abbie, Ila, Cleo, Obie, Homer and Carey Garner.  Mr. Garner is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty Ann Lee Garner, three sons, Billy Wayne, Terry (Amy) and Paul (Barbara) Garner, all of Fairhope, four grandchildren, Candace (Charles) Antinarella, Brittany (Joseph) Antinarella, Zachary Garner and Andrew Garner all of Fairhope.  Five great grandchildren, Caleb (Taylor) Antinarella, Carter Antinarella, Annaleise Schneider, Marlee Garner and Lilee Garner and one great great grandson, Jaxon Antinarella.    Mr. Garner was a WWII veteran enlisting in the US Navy at the age of 17 following his three older brothers.  He served upon the USS Neville APA49 and the USS Livermore 429 in the South Pacific.  After honorable discharge from the military, he returned to Fairhope to complete high school and went on to play football at the University of Arkansas and subsequently obtained an education degree from Troy State University.  He worked as a math and science teacher and coach in Mobile and Baldwin Counties for 11 years before beginning his career as an insurance agent in 1963, which he continued until his recent retirement.  He was a charter & life member of the Fairhope VFW Post 5660 and the founding member of VFW Honor Guard in Fairhope.  He was selected as the 2009 Fairhope Veteran of the Year and was honored as a WWII veteran participating in Honor Flight South Alabama in 2010.  He was a lifelong member of the Fairhope Masonic Lodge #598.  Billy was an active member of Fairhope Community Church, serving as a deacon for many years.  He was an avid outdoorman who loved to hunt turkey and deer, as well as maintaining a garden for many years.  Above all else, Mr. Garner was a family man and his most cherished time was spent with his loved ones.  He adored his family and his many friends.  He never met a stranger and left a lifelong impression on all of those he met.   A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope, from 5:00 until 8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 2:00 pm from the Chapel of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home.Interment will follow in Memory Gardens of Fairhope.   In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to Fairhope Community Church, 329 South Greeno Rd., Fairhope, AL 36532.   ARRANGEMENTS BYWOLFE-BAYVIEWFUNERAL HOMES& CREMATORY, INC.19698 GREENO RD.FAIRHOPE, AL 36532251-990-7775