Lester James Garon

Lester James Garon, age 58, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, February 20, 2011 at his daughter’s home.

Military Funeral Honors will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301 or Boys & Girls Club of the Rogue Valley, 203 SE 9th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Attn: Memorial/Honor Program PH, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-1905.

Lester was born September 21, 1952 in Rochester, New York where he grew up and attended schools. He moved with his family to Baldwin Park, California where he graduated from high school. He worked at an ARCO gas station where he met his future wife, Gertrud Kirchner and they were married on August 16, 1971. On October 21, 1971 he joined the United States Army and achieved the rank of E7 Staff Sergeant stationed in Germany where he lived close to his wife’s family in Frankfurt. On November 19, 1991 he was honorably discharged. He lived in Sacramento, California for 14 years and worked at the Army Depot and later private security. In 2008 he moved from Loma Linda, California to Grants Pass.

He volunteered as a peer counselor for returning veterans and new recruits.

He enjoyed watching sports, especially New York Mets baseball and New York Giants football.

Survivors include his wife, Gertrud Garon of Grants Pass, Oregon; three sons, Frank Kirchner, John Garon, and Michael Garon all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; a daughter, Michaela Garon of Grants Pass, Oregon; four sisters, Marjorie Vergara of Montclair, California, Joan Gillaberto, Patty Franco, and Rolanda Sancrant of Sacramento, California; a brother, Bill Garon of Sacramento, California; and five grandchildren.