Obituary

Wayne Thomas "Tom" Garton, Jr., 67, of Rome City died Thursday, October 18, 2012, in Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.

He was a life time area resident, graduating from Kendallville High School in 1964.

Mr. Garton was a heavy equipment operator and had worked for Reith-Riley, Hipskin Asphalt, S.E. Johnson, and retired from E&B Paving in Fort Wayne.

He was a member of the Rome City Sons of the American Legion Post 381, Kendallville Masonic Lodge Post 246, Operating Engineers 103, and a proud member of the NRA.

Tom enjoyed hunting, woodworking, four-wheeling, mushroom hunting, and feeding birds. He dearly loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He was born March 1, 1945, in Bluffton to Wayne T. Garton, Sr. and Geraldine L. (Burton) Garton Kimmerly. On February 20, 1965, in Wolcottville he married Connie J. Fisher.

Surviving are his wife, Connie J. Garton of Rome City; a daughter and son-in-law, Christy and Chuck Drerup of Kendallville; a son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Erin Garton of Rome City; six grandchildren, Luke Drerup, Bo Drerup, Olivia Drerup, Kendyl Garton, Kylie Garton, and Kane Garton; two sisters, Sandra Boyles of Rome City and Kathleen Blotkamp of Orland; his stepmother, Carrie Garton of Montpelier; his mother-in-law, Harriet Moyer of LaGrange; a sister-in-law, Gail Fisher of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; a brother-in-law, Steve Fisher of Orland; three aunts, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Fred Fisher, Jr., and two brothers-in-law, David Boyles and Chris Fisher.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 11 a.m. in Young Family Funeral Home, Wolcottville Chapel, State Road 9 North, Wolcottville with Rev. Carldean Merrifield officiating. Burial will be in Orange Cemetery, Rome City.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Gallup, Steve Fisher, Owen Drerup, Chuck Mergy, and Jack Bishop, Jr. Active pallbearers will be Nick Garton, Chuck Drerup, Clayton Dilts, Luke Drerup, Bo Drerup, Todd Boyles, Rob Boyles, and Jeff Gallup.

Calling is Monday, October 22, 2012, from 2 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. A Masonic Lodge service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Preferred memorials are to the Humane Society of Noble County or the Humane Society of DeKalb County.

View a video tribute after Monday or send condolences to the family at www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com