JACK - GARNER's Obituary
Jack Garner (89) was born February 4, 1919 in san Bernardino, Ca. He was the son of Robert F Garner, Jr. and Cosette Steiner Garner. He was the great grandson of one of the pioneer families of San Bernardino.
Jack attended city schools., then Harvard Military School (now Harvard-Westlake School) in Los Angeles. After 4 years of ROTC, Jack graduated in 1937 as a Second Lieutenant then attended 4 years as a business major at the University of Southern California. During college years Hollywood was making “B” Western movies in which Jack and his Fraternity brothers found employment as extras riding horses, and chasing cattle on film at the family ranch in Mountain Center, CA. In both High school and College, Jack played football, polo and was active in ROTC. He pledged the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity all while learning to drive cattle trucks for the family ranches and mechanics while at Garner Ford in San Bernardino.
Jack loved fast boats as well as sailing. His family were members of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club in Balboa, CA where jack continued to be a member his whole life.
December 7, 1941 Jack, Mary Condon (daughter of Tex Condon, the commodore of Newport Harbor Yacht Club (1942-43)) and another couple were going out the jetty in Newport Harbor when they were ordered to return to their homes because Pearl Harbor was bombed and the U.S. was now at war. Subsequently Jack reported for duty with the U.S. Army in Oakland. Lieutenant Jack Garner began his three and one-half year tour of service there in the British Isles on July 22, 1942. World War II took Jack to England, France and North Africa. Following his promotion, Captain Jack Garner returned home to hind his father had deceased one month before his arrival. Jack, therefore, aggressively took over all the family enterprises. Garner Ford became the number one truck dealership in California. At one time there were a total of three Ford tractor dealerships. All while continuing to grow the business at the family cattle ranch.
In 1948 Jack married Mary Condon. In 1953 their daughter Meg was born and they all continued to live in San Bernardino together until they moved to Bay Island in Newport Harbor in 1958. Jack commuted every day from there to Garner Ford in San Bernardino. He was active in the National Orange Show as well as community government. Jack was a member of the American Legion Post#800 in Idyllwild. He also belonged to the Arrowhead Country Club where he would eat lunch and discuss business with Malcom Blair of Blair’s Toy Store, his very best friend.
Jack Garner purchased Martin Aviation in 1963 when it was the original aviation firm at the Orange County Airport. Martin Aviation was managed by pilot and good friend Ted Andrews. By November 1964 Martin Aviation increased sales by two thousand percent and was given the #1 Piper Dealer in the World Award. Also in 1963 Jack and his wife Mary, purchased three yearlings at the Del Mar Yearling Sale and he hired the first woman trainer. After his purchase of three more horses, the then joined the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Jack loved the racetrack fan until he passed. In October of that same year, Governor Combs appointed Jack to his lifetime commission on his staff as a “Kentucky Colonel”.
In 1977 Jack married Marianne Sumner mother of daughter Shannon, and son John. They resided at Linda Isle, Promontory Point and for the last three years at the Inn at the Park in Irvine.
Even with all his travels, Jack never severed his strong ties to the community of San Bernardino. Even now that he has passed, his daughter Meg is still travels to San Bernardino to on behalf of her father.
Jack is survived by his wife Marianne, his daughter Meg and her husband Ted, his granddaughter Hanna, as well as Marianne’s daughter Shannon and her husband Gary, and Marianne’s son John and his wife Linda and their daughters Lindsey and Elle.
Meg would like to give her deepest heartfelt thanks to the Third floor doctors and nurses at Hoag Hospital for doting over her father, and to Silverado Hospice for their loving care, open hearts and warm hugs and for always being there for us. Also to Bobbitt Memorial Chapel who served our family with compassion and professionalism.
Jack Garner’s final resting place will be at the ranch that he loved so dearly.
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