ALEXANDRIA, VA Edward Carlton
Garrity of Alexandria, Virginia died on Friday, October 24, 2003.
Born July 5, 1918 in Fitchburg,
MA, the son of Edward and Irene Garrity. He grew up and lived in
Leominster. He was a graduate of Leominster High School, class of
1938, president of his class, and was prominent in football and
track. He was employed at the Cluett Peabody Co., Inc., plant in
Leominster prior to enlisting in the Army on October 15, 1940. He
reported for Active Duty on January 1, 1941 with the Yankee
Division, known as the YD. By 1943 he was a paratrooper in the 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), after a portion of the YD was
used to form this newly activated regiment. He served with the 508th
PIR, during World War II, which was attached to the elite 82nd
Airborne Division prior to the D-Day Invasion of Europe and remained
attached until the end of the war. He made the Army a career,
remaining for over 27 years retiring in September 1968 in
Alexandria, Virginia at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) 4.
His military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze
Star, and two Army Commendation Medals. Next, after a few years of
working at the Goddard Flight Center in Maryland and Cafritz
Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C., he found his second calling in
late 1973 when he embarked on a long and very enjoyable second
career with the City Government of Alexandria, Virginia in its
Office of Management and Budget. He retired at the age of 80 at the
beginning of 1999 after more than 25 more years of public service.
After retirement, he enjoyed his garden, raking leaves in the fall,
chatting with neighbors, attending 508th PIR reunions and keeping up
with local, national, and international news. He loved life, public
service, and to commingle with people.
The memorial services will be
held at 1:15 p.m., Monday, December 8th, 2003 at Saint Rita's
Catholic Church, 3815 Russell Road, Alexandria, Virginia with Father
Denis M. Donahue presiding. Burial is to follow at Arlington
National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the Key
Bridge Marriott Hotel, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia.
Surviving are his wife Elsa I.
Garrity and son Edward Robert Garrity, both of Alexandria, Virginia.
His beloved brother, E. Robert Garrity, passed away four weeks after
he did. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association
or the charity of your choice in Memory of Edward C. Garrity.
(Worcester Telegram & Gazette,
Worcester, MA, 30 Nov 2003, page B7 - courtesy Tedd Cocker) |
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