Willie Don Garvie, 87, of Huntsville, passed away Saturday. He served in the Air Force and was a Korean War veteran. He retired from the US Army Missile Support Command and Nichols Research Corporation.
He served on the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley, as Chairman of the Cerebral Palsy Center, as President of UCP of Alabama and President of UCP of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley.
Mr. Garvie was appointed to the First Alabama Planning Council, where he served as a council member for 22 years, and 19 years as Chairman of the Council. He was instrumental in establishing group homes, varied community living facilities and in-home support for persons with disabilities and their families. He worked tirelessly to educate Alabama residents regarding valuing all people for their abilities and to advocate for individual services.
Mr. Garvie was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Loretto Agnes Wolf; children, Edward Arthur Garvie and Willie Don Garvie Jr.; his parents, Arthur Cornelius Garvie and Eva Alice Wallace; siblings, Myrtes Joan Traham, Robert George Garvie, Charles Arthur Garvie, and Mary Jacqueline Estis.
Survivors include his children, Mary Garvie Weber (Jim) of Milton, GA, Elizabeth Garvie White (Randy) of Hermitage, TN, and Loretto Garvie Gentry (Joe) of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Jennifer Weber, Kelly Weber, Christopher White, Stephen White (Kendall), Lauren Withrow (Murray), Amanda Gentry, Charles Gentry (Rachel), and Winston Gentry; great-grandchildren, Murray, Ezra and Josiah Withrow; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home, followed by the Rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Mike Mac Mahon officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
