William Perry Garrett

William Perry Garrett was born October 21, 1915 in Jessie, Texas, and passed away March 5, 2011 in Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents Alpha Mae and Oliver Benford Garrett, his brothers O.T., Henry and Charles and his sisters Violetta, Annabelle and Willie Mae. When growing up on the family farm in Hill County, Texas he was affectionately known as "Buster". He left home in 1933 to join the U. S. Army where his friends called him "Bud" and was known by that nickname the rest of his life. MSGT Bud Garrett was a member of the Greatest Generation and proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was stationed at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii, when Pearl Harbor was attacked and had fascinating stories to tell of that perilous time. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was with the 8th Army at Leyte Island when the Philippines were liberated. After the war, he was assigned to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He was sent to Tokyo, Japan in 1950 where he was Wire Chief for the greater Tokyo Telephone Exchange. Upon returning to the U.S.A. in 1953, he was stationed at White Sands Proving Ground which later was renamed White Sands Missile Range. He was Post Wire Chief until his retirement in 1956. He continued to work at WSMR in Civil Service until his final retirement in 1971. Bud was a 32nd Degree Mason and was a life member of Aztec Masonic Lodge and served as Master of the Lodge. He and his Wife Dorothy were members of Las Cruces Chapter #20, Order of Eastern Star. He was honored to be elected Worthy Grand Patron of the State of New Mexico, and Dorothy was selected Grand Esther. Together, they visited all the Eastern Star chapters in the state where they made many life-long friends and had fond memories of their travels. After Bud's retirement, he and Dorothy moved to the Rio Grande Valley, and in 1996, they relocated to Houston, Texas where they enjoyed living at The Terrace Retirement Community. They were members of West University Baptist Church in Houston. Bud was a devoted husband to Dorothy who preceded him in death in 2007. He is survived by his sister, Mary Jacobs, of Waco, Texas. He is also survived by his children Janice Roseman and her husband Robert of Houston, Texas, Dale Garrett and his wife Frances of Houston, Texas and Linda Tharp and her husband Charles of Las Cruces, New Mexico; his grandchildren, Laura Kendrick and her husband Brian of Los Alamos, NM, Craig Tharp and his wife Chandra of Las Cruces, NM, Christopher Garrett and his wife Chaddelle of Simi Valley, CA, Robert Roseman IV and his wife Robin of Dayton, TX, Jo Carol Bailey and her fianc