William Starling Garrett Sr.

  General Notes:

See general notes on his mom, Annie Mitchell Garrett for 1930 census facts.

The 1940 Federal Census for Raleigh Court, Roanoke City, VA, District 119-40, page 699B, dated April 23, 1940 records William S. Garrett (41 - VA) and his wife, Marie (40 - Delaware) and their son Billy Garrett (11) and William's widowed mother Anna Garrett (78 - VA) living at 502 Otterview Avenue. William has comoleted 4 years of college while Marie 5 years of college. William is employed as a Mechanical Inspector for the Steam Railway and earned $4,700 working 50 weeks during the last year. He owns his home valued at $5,000.

The WWI Draft Registration Card for William Starling Garrett dated September 9, 1918 lists his date of birth as February 20, 1899. He is living at 813 13th Street, SW, Roanoke, VA. and is listed as a student at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Northampton Co., PA. His father, J. P. Garrett is listed as his nearest relative living at the same address. His physical description is medium in height and build with gray eyes and light brown hair.

Roanoke/Salem/Vinton City Directories from 1927 through 1940 record William S. Garrett with his wife Marie living at 502 Otterview Avenue in the Ghent section near the current Grandon Road / Memorial Avenue intersection. William is a Mech Inspr [Mechanical Inspector] for the N & W Ry [Norfolk and Western Railroad ... now Norfolk Southern]. The 1952 City directory lists the couple at 2108 Mt. Vernon Avenue and William is an Electrical Engineer with N & W. In 1965 William is now listed as RETD [retired] and continues to live with Marie until 1977. In 1978 Marie is listed alone but still at 2108 Mt. Vernon Avenue and continues there until 1988. Marie is sometimes listed as Manie however this is probably a typo ... she is listed one time as Marie LeC Garrett. With this clue and the fact that the 1930 census records her state of birth as Delaware, one can surmise that she is the daughter of James H. and Ida F. Lecates ... see notes on Marie LeCates.

William Starling Garrett (as listed in cemetery records) is buried next to his wife, Marie Hearn Garrett (as listed in cemetery records), in Section 2 of Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem, VA. The plots are next to the road just East of the Sherwood Mausoleum / Administrative Office. William's sister, Ruth, is burial nearby.

Obituary for William S. Garrett in March 16, 1977 edition of The Roanoke Times:
William S. Garrett, age 77, of 2108 Mt. Vernon Rd SW, died Monday in a Roanoke hospital. He was a retired assistent superintendent of motive power for the N&W Railway. Mr. Garrett was a member of Second Presbyterian Church. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Marie LeCates Garrett; son, Dr. William S. Garrett, Jr., Pittsburgh, PA; two grandsons; sister and brother; several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Sherwood Memorial Park [Salem, VA], conducted by Dr. William R. Klein. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roanoke Lifesaving Crew or the Roanoke Chapter of the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel. Friends may call at the home, 2108 My. Vernon Rd. Sw.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Mechanical Engineer at a Railroad Office (1930).

William married Marie Hearn Lecates about 1926 in Roanoke City, Virginia. (Marie Hearn Lecates was born on 28 May 1899 in Delaware, died on 2 Sep 1994 in Roanoke City, Virginia and was buried on 15 Oct 1994 in Sherwood Memorial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., VA.)