Ethel Ritenour Garber

Mrs. Ethel Ritenour Garber, 99 of Mt. Jackson died Tuesday, July 03, 2012 at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg. Mrs. Garber was born November 22, 1912 in Fort Valley, daughter of the late Charles Edward and Daisy Estella Coverstone Ritenour. In 1918 her family moved to Prince William County where she grew up and attended school. Mrs. Garber graduated in 1930 from Manassas High School as valedictorian and was a graduate of Strayers University in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Garber was former president of Shenandoah Valley Chapter of 99's International Order of Women's Pilots and was the first woman in Shenandoah County to get her pilot's license. She established the William H. and Ethel R. Garber Flight Scholarship at Randolph Macon Academy and was an Honorary Trustee of the Academy. She was a member of Mount Jackson United Methodist Church where she served as auditor and on various committees, a charter member and Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter at Mt. Jackson before its merger with Woodstock Chapter 93 Order of the Eastern Star, past president and long-time treasurer of the Auxiliary of the Massanutten Post 2447 V.F.W. Edinburg. She served as president of Flat Rock Cemetery Association, Inc. and was the donor of an electric organ given to Flat Rock Church of the Brethren in memory of her husband and the J.W. Garber Family. She was also a member of the New Market Garden Club since 1957. She was an avid gardener both in flowers and vegetables, winning many blue ribbons and awards at flower shows and the Shenandoah County Fair. She received an award for 50 years Outstanding Service and Dedication for the American Heart Association, was a charter member and board member of Shenandoah County Historical Society, and a member of Shenandoah Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary. She was a licensed Resident Agent and secretary of Garber-Moyers-Johnson Insurance Agency. Mrs. Garber was office manager of Quality Inn in New Market at the time of her retirement in 1981. She was married December 24, 1938 to William Hoyle Garber who preceded her in death May 14, 1992. She is survived by a brother Glen Ritenour of Nathalie, VA; eight nieces and two nephews. Celebration of life will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Dellinger Funeral Home in Mount Jackson with the Rev. Michael Dettmer and Former Pastor Ken DeWitt officiating. Burial will follow at Flat Rock Cemetery in Forestville. Pallbearers will be Warren Hepler, Ken Hackenbracht, Ronald Dove, Kenna Fansler, Howard Hackenbracht and Richard Orndorff. Honorary pallbearers will be Allen D. Johnson, Bobby Bowman, Maj. Gen. H.M. Hobgood, Lanny Branner and Clayton Will. The Woodstock Chapter 93 Order of the Eastern Star and Ladies Auxiliary of Massanutten Post No. 2447 V.F.W. will attend in a group. The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with a service by the Woodstock Chapter 93 Order of Eastern Star at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Jackson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 27, Mount Jackson, VA 22842.

Ethel Ritenour Garber

July 3, 2012