Dr. William Elmer Garstang

Dr. William E. (Doc) Garstang passed away on March 26, 2016 at the age of 92. William E. Garstang was born in Belle, MO on November 16, 1923 to Guy and Lena Garstang. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Carmel Davis Garstang. He was preceded in death by his brothers Ray Garstang, Tom Garstang and Robert Garstang. William Garstang is survived by his son Greg Garstang and his wife Bella, his son Dr. Dennis Garstang and his wife Mimi, his son Jim Garstang and his wife Connie and his daughter, Patricia Garstang Phelps and her husband Randy Phelps. He is survived by five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

William Garstang was raised in Belle, Mo and attended Belle High School. Shortly after graduating from High School William Garstang was drafted into the United States Army and served in the United States Army Air Corps. He was married to Carmel Davis on March 9, 1944 in Sioux Falls, SD. He was on the pacific island of Tinian when WWII ended. He came home and went to college on the GI bill and obtained a Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry. He practiced optometry in Belle, Mo for more than fifty years. He was an important and well known figure in the community for all of those years. He was a member of the Belle Lions club and also served as president of the Belle School Board. William Garstang was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Belle, Mo for many years and active in Church affairs. William Garstang had a far ranging optometric practice and had patients from all parts of central Missouri. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be greatly missed by his family and the community at large.

Visitation services for Dr. William E. Garstang will be held at the Sassmann's Chapel in Belle, Mo from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2016.

Funeral services for William E. Garstang will be held at the First Baptist Church in Belle, MO at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2016. Interment will follow in the Liberty Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the First Baptist Church Building and Maintenance Fund.