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December 17, 1947 William Garrett

January 08, 2021

December 17, 1947 -- January 08, 2021

William Garrett, Age:73

William “Bill” Robert Garrett Jr., 73, died on January 8, 2021, in Frisco, TX. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather whose presence shall be deeply missed. Bill was born in Cincinnati, OH, on December 17, 1947. He grew up visiting his sister’s farm, riding his bike, playing ball, and teasing the young ladies in his neighborhood.

By the time he reached his senior year, he finally got up the courage to ask one of those neighbor girls to a pool party — they would remain together for the next five decades. After graduating from Oak Hills High School in 1965, Bill received an Associate of Science from the Ohio College of Applied Science in 1967, and then served in the Army for three years. In 1973, he received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati. Bill then began his long career as a chemist, working for Emery Industries in Cincinnati, Ashland Oil in Kentucky, and Ford Motor Company in Illinois. He focused on research and development, and even filed three patents.

Despite his career accomplishments, Bill was first and foremost a family man. He was the type of dad who’d not only take you to Six Flags, but also ride the rollercoasters with you. He loved spending time with his kids, and loved spending time with his grandkids even more. In 2012, he and his wife moved to Texas to be closer to them. Sports and music — specifically Ohio State football, Cincinnati Reds baseball, and ‘60s rock — were Bill’s other great loves. He had enormous collections of baseball cards and music history books, he cried when OSU’s “i” was dotted, and he tried to visit a new MLB stadium every summer.

Over the years, he dragged his wife to countless concerts and sporting events, with enough enthusiasm for the both of them. Bill was quirky and kind, with a unique sense of humor. He was outgoing and chatty, with an innate ability to make everyone feel special, and a knack for turning strangers into friends. He was giving, always eager to help any cause and any person. He was smart, an encyclopedia who could speak on nearly every subject (and often in far more detail than you had bargained for). Now that he is gone, Bill will be remembered as many things to many people: a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus; a bridge player; an avid gardener; a WWII buff who could name the dates and details of every battle; a home bartender whose guests looked forward to his cocktail of the day; an Ohio guy who bled scarlet, gray, and red, and who lived for Skyline Chili; a beloved “Jedo” to his grandkids; a “second dad” to all; a man who knew how to get the W in the game of life: fill it with good steak and good tunes, strong Manhattans, and the family he loved so much. Bill was preceded in death by his parents William Robert Garrett Sr. and Ruby Mae (Carlisle) Garrett, and his sisters Norma Allen and Delores Horan. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lila Garrett; his children Joshua Garrett and Jennifer Goldsworthy (William); his grandchildren Alex Cantu and Emma, Juliana, and William Goldsworthy; and his beloved nieces and nephew Valerie Allen, Wendy Long, and Vic Allen.

Services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes in-memoriam donations to the American Chemical Society (acs.org).

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