Gary Karr:
CLASS OF 1964
Lenape High SchoolClass of 1964
Medford, NJ
Gary's Story
Life
Those of you who remember me at all might remember that I enlisted in the Navy and went off to boot camp within days of graduation. I am glad I'll never have to do that again, but I have to admit I grew up a lot in 10 weeks, both emotionally and physically. Since I was 3 inches taller and 30 pounds lighter, my folks drove right past me at the airport when I came home.
At the party of a mutual friend, I met the girl who was to become my life companion, Lynda Sandford (class of '66), and we married in 1967. Following a couple of tours in Viet Nam as well as other international hot spots, I enrolled in the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP); we had two children, 1971 & 1973; and I obtained a Bachelors degree in Systems Analysis. Then I returned for 6 more years of active duty to pay the Navy back for my degree, but now I was an officer.
I retired in 1984, and pursued employment as a gas-station attendant, a Prudential Insurance agent, a substitute math/electronics teacher at a vocational high school, a courtesy bus driver at the local hospital, a billing clerk at the same hospital (where, by the way, my wife worked as a medical transcriptionist, so we could drive to work together, eat lunch together, and ride home together after 16 years punctuated with long Navy separations), and finally as an auto parts sales and diagnostic specialist for Auto Zone. Since I really enjoy working on cars, this is what I consider the height of success: I can live in Texas for the winter and in Ohio for the summer; get a 20% discount on all my auto, motorcycle, and RV parts; and transfer back and forth between the Newark, OH store and Uvalde, TX store, all because Lyn encouraged me to stay in the Navy for 20 years instead of getting out at 16, which I was tempted to do because it was no longer the Navy I had enlisted in.
I'm amazed that I've lived this long and give my wife credit for that as well, though God has led a lot in my life. He kept me safe through my war years and on the high (and sometimes way higher-than-the-ship) seas. He gave me a wife whose temperament and talents ba...Expand for more
lance my own. He gave me a need to put family and friends first, and now I am surrounded by loving support. And finally, he gave me a need to put him first, and he blesses me every time I do but forgives me every time I don't. It just doesn't get any better than this.
P.S.
In the fall of 2005, Gary developed pancreatic cancer, and after a year-long battle, only really losing ground--and then very quickly--the last month, passed away on December 11, 2006. He was a man you either loved or hated because he knew what was important to him and he let everyone know where they stood with him. Many, many more loved him than hated him. His family and friends in Ohio, Texas, and all over the country miss him. He asked me to promise not to mourn him and to tell everyone else not to mourn, because he felt he was in a win/win situation. He would win if he was cured and could work for the Lord until he returns, and he would win if he goes to sleep in the Lord until he is resurrected when Jesus returns with his reward. I think he was trying to tell me not to feel sorry for myself, and I certainly shouldn't feel sorry for him, because we were never ones to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. So, as a memorial to him, I have added this PS to his bio. His obituary and online memorial are located at the Henderson Vanatta Funeral Home site under obituaries, where you can search on Karr.
And, one last thing. He would never mention it, but he went from Recruit to First Class Petty officer in near-record time, it was a great honor to be a NESEP, and he was the only "Autozoner" allowed to transfer back and forth between stores every 6 months, all because he did everything as though for the Lord. He even called his superiors to task when they screwed up. Almost everyone recognized his dedication and loyalty. I think that includes God, for Gary never recognized the severe pain that always accompanies death by pancreatic cancer, though I saw it. You cannot "contact" anyone through this account because it's not gold, but my Lynda Sandford Class of '66 account is, if you'd like to send your thoughts to me.
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