Island native Walter Potter Garrish, 90, of Dover, New Hampshire, died July 6 during a visit to Ocracoke.
Born Feb. 1, 1929, in Beaufort, Beaufort County, he was a son of the late James Daniel and Ruby Austin Garrish.
Potter, as he was known, was the oldest alum attending the Ocracoke School Alumni Association banquet in May 2017. He was the sole member of his Ocracoke School Class of 1947.
“The graduation ceremony was in the church,” he said while awaiting that evening’s festivities in the Community Center.
“He loves to come home,” said his first cousin Mickey Hoggard, who accompanied Garrish to the dinner.
Maybe that’s because of Garrish’s fond memories of island life as a young boy.
“We never had a bare minute,” he said about all of the things to do in a day. “We were always busy with something.”
After two years at High Point University (then college), he enlisted in the Air Force in October 1949 and retired as a senior master sergeant after 22 years. After retirement in 1971, Garrish worked for Raytheon Company where he retired in 1991 after 20 years.
He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Germaine Garrish, a son Robert S. Garrish, and brothers James and Ward Garrish.
He is survived by three children, Michael J. Garrish and his wife, Kathleen of Derry ,NH; Kathleen Hanson and her husband James of Hampstead, NC; and Karen Jefferson and her husband Peter of Virginia Beach, VA.
He is also survived by six grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorials will be held July 13 on Ocracoke, and Hampton, NH, to be announced at a later date at Remicks Funeral Home.
Twiford Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
So sorry for your loss…
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