RED SPRINGS — William Edward "Bill" Garner, Ret. CSM US Army, 73, passed away on Jan. 7, 2014 at McLeod Hospital in Florence.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Laurinburg Church of the Nazarene officiated by the Rev. Larry Lawrence. Visitation will follow the service at the church. His burial will be at a later date in the Arlington National Cemetery.

William was born on April 9, 1940 in Belzoni, Okla., a son of the late William W. and Daisy Apple Garner. He served in the United States Army retiring after 30 years of dedicated service as a Command Sergeant Major. He was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, specializing in intelligence. He then continued his career in government with the Civil Service. He was a member of the Laurinburg Church of the Nazarene where he served as a Trustee, Church Treasurer and involved with the Hope in Christ Food Pantry ministry. He was a founder of the 13th ASASA Field Station Association reunion group and loved spending time with his family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother Charles Jerry Garner.

Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years Sylvia Garner of their home in Red Springs, his children Cheryl Olmstead of Springfield, Ill., John Garner and wife Doree of Burlington, Ky., and David Garner of Ludowici, Ga., brother Thomas Garner, sisters Melissa Ann Anderson, Alice Faye Stark, Susie Apple, Ruth Beard, Pat Ruiz, and Gwendolyn Howard, sister-in-law Kay Garner, grandchildren Laura Kresse and husband Gregg of Riverton, Ill., Jamie Garner of Burlington, Ky., and Jason Garner of Burlington, Ky., and he was so proud of the upcoming birth of his first great grandchild.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to the Laurinburg Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 2066, Laurinburg, NC 28353

Richard Boles Funeral Service is serving the Garner family.