Garland Altizer

Garland Hayes Altizer, 78, of 2111 Evergreen Road, died, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011 at the Highland House in Clifton Forge.

He was born Oct. 9, 1932 on Washington Street in Rivermont, a son of the late Walter Burton Altizer and Payne Curry Alitzer.

Mr. Altizer served his county during the Korean Conflict with the United States Army during with the 7th Division, 201st A.F. A. B. N in Dachau, Germany.

He started working for Westvaco on July 4, 1955 and retired November 30, 1993 as a supervisor of Security and Property Conservation, after 38 years of service.

He was a lifelong member of McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church where he served as both a Deacon and an Elder. He was co-founder and co-director of the Christmas Cheer program until his health prevented him from participating. He attended Sunday School and served as a pioneer fellowship counselor during the early 1960s. He videoed the church service and took copies of that service to local nursing homes for many years.

Garland began coaching Little League with the Rivermont Rebels in the early 1960’s and coached his own children and then his grandchildren. He remained totally involved in the Little League baseball, football and basketball programs for many years. He was chairman of the first Alleghany County Recreation Committee and was a member of the Board of directors of the Virginia Athletic Association Inc. for the Covington Astros in 1968. He was a Boy Scout Leader for a troop at McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather “Tizer”. He visited and tinkered at his daughter’s dance studio and always found time for his grandchildren. Garland enjoyed many years of hunting, especially at his “Rockin Chair” hunt camp in Millboro with his son, grandsons and others. He loved traveling and working in his yard. Mr. Altizer was an avid Redskins fan and traveled to see them play in DC as well as watch them play in the Super Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

He leaves his family with wonderful memories and devotion to family as well as personal scrapbooks of the family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Wayne Lee Altizer in 1945 and Herman Douglas Altizer in 2000 and his father and mother-in-law, Charles Lester and Mamie Hocker Putnam.

Surviving are his loving wife of 50 years, Ruth Putnam Altizer of Covington; a daughter, Garlynda Haynes and her husband, Grady of Clifton Forge; a son, Timothy Hayes Altizer and his wife, Brenda of Millboro; four grandchildren, Gavin Haynes, Giaynna Smith and her husband, Brett ; Damin Altizer and Cody Altizer; one brother, Walter “Doc” Altizer and his wife, Sarah of Martinsville ; a sister, Doris Altizer; a brother-in-law, Charles L. Putnam Jr. of Millboro; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday in McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Michael L. Fleenor officiating.

The interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park with graveside rites being conducted by the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Friends may pay their respects anytime at Arritt Funeral Home.

The family will receive their friends Thursday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

The online guest book is available at arrittfuneralhome.com.