Dartha Lucille Garner

Dartha Lucille Garner, 95, of Poteau, OK died peacefully in Palos Verdes, CA on Sunday February 22, 2015. She was born in Elmer, OK on July 1, 1919 and was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Zelmon Garner and her parents Josie and Charles Combs. She is survived by her three children, Grady Garner and wife Sharon of Poteau,; Jerry Garner and wife Anita of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; Suzanne Garner  Manavian and husband John of Palos Verdes Estates, CA. ; eight grandchildren; Rhett (Tanya) Garner of Fayetteville, AR.; Jarot (Jona) Garner of Fayetteville, AR.; Seth (Jessie) Garner of Fayetteville, AR. Jordan (Leslie) Manavian of Los Angeles, CA., Taylor Manavian of Redondo Beach, CA., Cameron (Jane) Manavian, of Sherman Oaks, CA., Graham Garner of Los Angeles, CA. and Katherine Garner of Redondo Beach, CA., and eight great grandchildren; Cross, Crew, and Casha Garner (Jarot’s); Caleb, Gracie, and Cam Garner (Seth’s), Major Manavian (Jordan’s), and Wylder Garner (Graham’s).

Dartha attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) where she met and then married Zelmon. During and after Zelmon’s service in World War II they lived and worked in several different states. In 1946, they settled in Zelmon’s hometown of Wister before moving to Poteau In 1951. Dartha was foremost a homemaker, mother, wife and community volunteer. Her interests included being the  superintendent of the primary department of Poteau First Methodist Church, President of PTA, Senior High youth counselor for the Methodist Church, member of the board of directors for Poteau Youth Center, President of WSCS and the Federated Missionary Society, member of the ESA and other church and civic work projects. Dartha always loved to help plan and organize activities at the First Methodist Church of Poteau. She served on both local and state committees. Dartha loved the friendly people of Poteau so very much. She cherished her friends and with them she enjoyed playing bridge, cooking and entertaining, as well as attending many high-school and college sporting events. She and Zelmon extensively traveled throughout the world but also enjoyed the simple pleasures of camping and fishing.

 In 2004, Dartha moved to the Palos Verdes Peninsula and for the next 10 years enjoyed getting to know her five West Coast grandchildren, all Peninsula High School graduates. For six of these years she was a resident of Belmont Assisted Living where she made many new friends. Although Dartha lived in California for enough years to legally become a “Californian” she was always an “Oklahoman”’ in her heart and proud of it!

On June 27^th, she will be buried, next to her husband Zelmon, after a memorial service at her beloved First Methodist Church in Poteau, Oklahoma, Saturday morning at 10 am.