Garst, Don Allen

Don Allen Garst, 78, of Blacksburg, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 7, at his home. He was born March 5, 1934, in Roanoke, to the late Jerry Henry and Grace Patterson Garst. Don graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1952. He went to Roanoke College from the fall of 1952 until 1954 when he transferred to VPI. He was in the United States Army Corps of Engineers Polar Research and Development Center Detachment from Oct. 1959 until July 27, 1961. Don taught in the Civil Engineering Department and was the supervisor of National Testing for more than 40 years. Don was secretary of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society for many years. He retired from Virginia Tech in 1996, and was a Distinguished Alumni Honoree Recipient in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances (Chick) Garst, of Blacksburg; his children, Libby Heinemann of Kansas, Wayne Garst, of Blacksburg, Mary Hendrickson, of Blacksburg, and Jerry Garst, of Florida; seven grandchildren, Lindsay Holman, Kari Traugott, Kellie Lavine, Leslie Hendrickson, Emily Garst, Katie Garst, Morgan Hendrickson; five great-grandchildren, Josh, Gage, Shelby, Austin and Landon; two sisters and brothers-in-laws, Shirley and Bob McDonald, of Salem, Wanda and Earl Atkins, of Roanoke; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, June 11, 2012, in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Dr. Tommy McDearis officiating. Interment will follow in the Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Dept. or to the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. Friends may call anytime after noon Sunday, and the family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday evening at the McCoy Funeral Home Blacksburg. 540-552-3211.