Robert (Bob) Howard Garrett

Robert (Bob) Howard Garrett, age 92, passed away peacefully at Gentry Park Senior Living on August 3, 2023. He was born on April 3, 1931, in Batavia, New York to Oscar Leslie Garrett and Nellie Imogene (Sennate) Garrett. He had two full careers. First with the US Army and second with the IU Kelley School of Business. Upon graduation from Edison Technical High School, Rochester, NY in 1948, he enlisted in the US Army. His initial duty assignment was to Okinawa with the engineering disposal unit as a part of the Japanese Reconstruction Program under General Douglas MacArthur. From 1950-1951 he was engaged in combat in Korea where he served until, he was seriously wounded. After months of hospital care he returned to the U.S. and continued training with the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1952 he was stationed in the U.S. Occupied Zone in Germany where he served in a logistics capacity. Returning to the U.S. in 1956 he was assigned to the Indiana University ROTC School as an instructor. While at IU he almost completed courses for a degree in Police Administration in addition to serving as Sponsor of Boy’s State, establishing the IU Rifle Club and the IU Junior Rifle Club, and setting up a ROTC rifle target range in the basement of the IU Memorial Union. In 1963, he was assigned to Iran with the Military Assistance Program. In 1965 he returned to the U.S. with a duty station at Ft. Benjamin Harrison. From 1966 to 1967 he was assigned to Vietnam where he directed logistics supplying ammunition to front line combat troops. Bob remarked that this assignment gave him two opportunities to become an enemy target, first with the supply vehicles and second at the front-line combat positions. While he was in one of the supply helicopters, it was shot down and crash-landed. He survived with no major injuries but was minus several teeth. In 1967 Bob was assigned to Fort Sheridan at Chicago where his Army Ordinance Corp team did readiness inspections and provided updated launch codes for the Nike Missile sites in the Chicago and Gary, Indiana area. After 20 years of service, Bob retired from the U.S. Army in 1968 as a Master Sergeant E-8. His service awards included a Purple Heart for Korean Combat, and the Bronze Star Medal March 15, 1952 for Meritorious Achievement in ground operations against the Enemy Korea; the Army Commendation Medal October 25, 1963 for Meritorious Service as an IU ROTC Instructor, sponsor of Boy’s State and IU Rifle Club; A second Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) August 24, 1962 for Meritorious Achievement in ground operations against hostile forces in Vietnam; and Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) June 13, 1968 for Meritorious Service from the U.S. Secretary of the Army for service with the Army Air Defense Nike Missile Command. After concluding his Army career, Bob became employed in 1968 at Indiana University eventually rising to Director of Administrative Services at the Kelley School of Business. His position reported directly to the Dean and his services were provided to other administrators, faculty and students. He established the in-house duplicating department and a fledgling IT operation which grew greatly in size as IT technology continually evolved. He enjoyed reminiscing with faculty members who had served in the military. But he especially enjoyed travelling to work in his red Jeep, weather permitting. He became known as “the old guy driving around campus in a red jeep.” Bob retired in June 1995 after 27 years of service to the University. Bob met Coach Knight within the first month Bobby came to IU. The two Bobs were friends throughout the Coach’s career at IU and the Coach selected Bob to serve as a host for a visiting basketball team for every Hoosier Classic. He married his sweetheart Wilma Jane Volz on October 24, 1952. They enjoyed many years of travel adventures together when permitted with his military duty assignment. In their retirement years they spent summers in Indiana and winters in Florida where he would ride his three-wheeled bike in the park with his dog and would walk the Florida beaches collecting seashells for his collection. His summers involved driving his boat at Lake Monroe. His other hobbies included collecting interesting rocks from around the US and some from other countries. He worked with ceramics and acquired coin and button collections. Bob and Wilma hosted many garage sales which were eagerly anticipated by their loyal customers. Bob was member of the Masonic Scottish Rite and the American Legion. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Wilma Jane (Volz) Garrett, his loving daughters Pamela (Bill) Fawcett, Cindy (Bob) Lettelleir; four grandchildren: Tyler (Brooke) Weddle; Amy Pugh, Bradley Lettelleir, Stephen Lettelleir, and four great-grandchildren: Harrison and Matthew Weddle; Zachary and Molly Pugh. The family would like to thank Gentry Park Senior Living, Southern Care, and Dr. Brad Bomba, for the exceptional care and love that they have shown Bob. Funeral services for Master Sergeant Robert “Bob” Garrett will be held on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 12:00pm at Allen Funeral Home 4155 S Old Indiana 37, Bloomington, IN with Ronald Smith officiating. A burial with military honors will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens in Bloomington. Visitation will be from 10:00am to the time of service also Tuesday at the funeral home. His family and friends thank him for all the memories shared with us. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bob’s name to the Apostolic Bible Church, 3291 S Walnut Street Pike, Bloomington 47401 or to the American Legion Burton Woolery Post 18, 1800 W 3rd St, Bloomington 47404. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory have been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

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Robert (Bob) Howard Garrett

April 3, 1931 - August 3, 2023