Peggy
Peggy Garst
d. April 26, 2011
Mrs. Peggy H. Garst, age 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at her residence at Homewood at Crumland Farm in Frederick.
Born on March 18, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Myra Zimmerman Himes. She was the beloved wife of the late John Harding Garst. Together they celebrated 61 wonderful years of marriage.
She and her husband, John, were diary farmers in the Glade Valley area where they owned and operated Meadowlark Farm on Stauffer Road, Walkersville. She was involved in so many wonderful organizations throughout her life. She was a member of the Fred. Co. Farm Bureau since 1947 where she served on several committees, a board member of the Fred. Co. Farm Safety 4-H Kids Camp since it began in 1995. She was a life member of the Maryland 4-H All Stars, served as a local 4-H leader in the Walkersville area for 25 years, served on the first planning committee of the Fred. Co. 4-H Camp Center and later was inducted into the Fred. Co. 4-H Camp Center Hall of Fame.
Peggy was a life member of the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, Frederick, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, department superintendent, chairperson of many different committees, ordained as an Elder in the church, and served on the official board for a total of 9 years. She was also a member of the Chimes Circle ladies group. She was an active member of the Church Women United in Fred. Co. since 1956, serving as president for 4 years and chaired numerous committees. She pioneered for better conditions for our migrant workers in the early 1960’s. She worked with the Church Women United to organize Meals on Wheels, Laubach Literacy, Hospice, and Habitat for Humanity. Peggy served on the organizational committee to help found the Fred. Co. Farm Museum at Rose Hill Manor Park in 1975 and was a longtime member of the Walkersville Homemakers Club. Homewood has been a very special place to Peggy. Since 1980, she has served on the auxiliary boards for Homewood of Frederick and then later, Homewood at Crumland Farm where she was the Publicity Chairperson for several years. She treasured her many friends that she met while she served on the boards as well as when she became a resident there. Peggy also enjoyed singing in the Homewood Choir. She loved to bake cookies, pies, cakes and her famous sticky buns and share them with family and friends. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, and spending time at her beach home in Ocean City, Maryland with her family.
She is survived by three children, Myralee Wiles of Myersville, Charles Garst and his wife, Patricia, of Frederick, and Stuart Garst and his wife, Ellen, of Walkersville; grandchildren, Ryan Wiles and wife, Lori, of Keedysville, Laura Troxell and husband Vernon, of Myersville, Sarah Crawford and husband Michael, of Adamstown, Amy Pontius and husband, Jeff, of California, Jennifer Hill and husband, Tim, of New York and Emily Grimshaw and husband, Luke, of Annapolis. Also, Helen Garst and Grace Garst of Walkersville. She also leaves behind eight great-grandchildren, whom she so dearly loved. They are Ashley Wiles, Gunner Crawford, Mackenzy Crawford, Ella Troxell, Lilli Pontius, Brady Hill, Bailey Hill and Asher Grimshaw.
Also surviving are sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws, Louise Cline, Richard and Florence Garst, Denton and Peggy Garst, Donald Garst, and Paul and Virginia Coblentz. She will be missed by many nieces and nephews.
Peggy was preceded in death by her husband John H. Garst, her sister, Patsie Himes Garst, and brother-in-law Milo Cline.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on
Friday, April 29, 2011 at Stauffer Funeral Home on Opossumtown Pike. A service of celebration will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday April 30, 2011 at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ located at 15 W. Church Street, Frederick. The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel, Pastor of the church will be officiating. A reception will follow the service in the social room of the church. Private graveside services for the immediate family will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be her nephews, James Garst, Bradley Garst, Dale Garst, Richard Garst, Robert Cline and Scott Coblentz.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Peggy to the Frederick County 4-H Camp Center, 3702 Basford Road, Frederick, MD 21704 or Homewood Benevolent Fund, Homewood at Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick, MD 21702.
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