Dr. Warren K Garner

Dr. Warren K. Garner, 91, North Manchester, Indiana, died February 24, 2018 at Timbercrest Healthcare Center.  He was born June 27, 1926 to missionary parents, Rev. Holly P. & Kathryn (Barkdoll) Garner in Dahanu, India.  He graduated from Pioneer (Ohio) High School in 1944; earned his A.B. degree from Manchester College in 1950; M.S degree from Indiana University in 1956 and his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School in 1969. Upon his graduation from Manchester College he taught math and business classes in the public schools of Hobart, IN; Fullerton and LaVerne, CA. He was principal at Union Township Schools, Wheeler, IN, assistant principal at Crown Point, IN Community Schools and LaCanada CA. In 1967 he was called by Manchester College to serve as Associate Professor of Education. Two years later he was appointed Chair of the Education Department, Director of Teacher Education and promoted to full professor. Upon early retirement from Manchester College in 1989 he joined the Indiana Department of Education as Senior Officer of Professional Development and later Governor Evan Bayh asked him to serve as Executive Director of the newly legislated Professional Standards Board. Professional activities included president of the Manchester College Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. Executive Secretary of the Indiana Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, charter president of the Association of Liberal Arts College of Teacher Education and a three year term on the National Council for the Accreditation Teacher Education Institutions. His civic contributions included membership in Kiwanis Clubs in each of the cities in which he lived. He held offices in each club as President or Secretary. He served on the North Manchester Board of Zoning Appeals for eight years, and the North Manchester Town Board for eight years. He served on the North Manchester Shepherd's Center Board and Town Life Steering Committee. He was honored by his alma mater with the Alumnus of the Year award. In 2017 he was honored with the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Governor Bayh made him Sagamore of the Wabash. He was a member and deacon at the First Brethren Church, North Manchester. He served for many years as moderator of the local congregation and two years as moderator of the Brethren Church. In 1989 he help to start the Brethren Way of Christ and served on the Ashland University Board of Trustees for 18 years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Warren will always be remembered as a die-hard Cubs fan and one of his greatest joys was watching the Cubs win the World Series. He was a man that loved to golf, garden, and crochet afghans for all his family members, but most of all he was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He married Helen J. Yeager on December 17, 1949. She preceded him death in 2016. They had two boys, Dr. Greg (Paula) Garner, Wabash, IN and Rev. Tim (Beth) Garner, Noblesville, IN; grandchildren, Erica (Ethan) Bigham, Houston, TX, Nick Garner, Wabash, IN, Dr. Adam (Dr. L’erin) Garner, Tipton, IN and Katie (Stephano) Leon, Peru, South America; two great grandchildren, Elena and Meiana. Services will be held at Timbercrest Assembly Room, 2201 East Street, North Manchester, IN on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. with calling one hour prior. Friends and family may call from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, IN. Officiating the service will be Pastor Kurt Stout and burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, North Manchester, IN. For those who wish to honor the memory of Dr. Warren K. Garner, memorial contributions may be made to the Warren K. and Helen J. Garner Scholarship Fund at Manchester University, 604 E. College Ave. North Manchester, IN 46962 or North Manchester First Brethren Church Memorial Fund, 407 N. Sycamore St., North Manchester, IN 46962.