Hugh Francis "Babe" Garretson

Hugh Francis “Babe” Garretson, age 71, of Chambersburg, PA, formerly of Greencastle, PA and Eatontown, NJ, went to be with his Lord on Friday, April 8, 2022, after a lifetime of dedicated service to his country and fellow servicemen, and an incredibly fulfilled and passionate life as a Husband, Father, and Grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Janetta Garretson, his parents-in-law, Milton and Eleanor Truex, his sister, Teddy Rensink of Idaho and his niece, Cheryl Suttle of CO. Surviving is his Bride, Eternal Love, Wife, and Hero of over 51 years, Judy Ann (his Sweet Marmuse); his daughter, Nicole Yvonne Moriarty, and the greatest son-in-law any man ever had, Jason Michael Moriarty, Sr., of Fayetteville, PA; two granddaughters, Nicole Marie and Jennifer Rose; four grandsons, Jason Michael II, Jacob Ryan, Ian, and Ethan; his sister, Adrienne; his sister-in-law, Jane Fiorentino; his nieces, Debra Holmes of Jackson, NJ and Lisa Fiorentino, Ocean, NJ;  plus numerous other nieces, nephews, and their children.

He was a member of St. Paul’s First United Methodist Church, Chambersburg, PA. He was Chief of Operations and Business Management of the IEWS Directorate, LRC, CECOM, Fort Monmouth, NJ, retiring as a GS-14 Supervisor in 2010. He previously retired from the U.S. Army in 1989, after serving as First Sergeant and Chief Operations Sergeant in the Air Defense Artillery. While on Active Duty, he and his wife were always very involved in military and local community activities. During his 20 years of service he spent over 14 years overseas, where assignments too him to Belgium, Germany, Korea, Ethiopia, and Cuba. He was a NATO and AFCENT qualified evaluator and a Honorary Member of the German Military VKK 442 in Spangdalhem, Germany.

He was a member of the Order of Saint Barbara for Artillerymen and held life memberships in the Disabled Veterans Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Noncommissioned Officers Association, the Air Defense Artillery Association and the Noncommissioned Officers Historical Association. He was a member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New Jersey and a Past Worshipful Master, Past Secretary and Past Trustee of Washington Lodge No. 9, Eatontown, NJ, now known as Navesink Lodge No. 9, Red Bank, NJ. He was a member of the First Corps of Gettysburg, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of that Civil War site. He supported numerous charities, in particular the Special Olympics and local food banks.

A voracious reader, he particularly enjoyed Presidential, Civil War, and sports history, and the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Being a nature lover, he was an avid bird-watcher. He and his wife adopted 15 rescue dogs and cats during his lifetime. He loved to take trips with his wife to Civil War sites and in the fall go “leaf-peeping and covered bridge strolling” in New England and Pennsylvania. He delved into westerns, film noir, and horror movies, and relaxed solving logic problems. His pleasure for Classical Music, American Jazz, and 1960’s music resulted in enjoying Brahms, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, Louis Armstrong, James Taylor, Barry White, Beethoven, and The Doors with equal fervor. He played trumpet, trombone, keyboard, and guitar and enjoyed singing during his lifetime.  Born in New York City, he was raised in Fort Lee and Cliffside Park, NJ and Commerce C ity, CO. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and its Order of the Arrow, as a youth and young adult, where he spent many summers and winters working at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Blairstown, NJ, prior to entering the military. His main passion in life was his family, to which he was truly Devoted. A true Romantic, he wrote poetry to his wife and every year celebrated the days he met his wife, asked her to share his life forever, and became engaged, in addition to their wedding anniversary and birthdays of their children and grandchildren. He enjoyed taking his children throughout Europe sightseeing and exploring historical sites while in the military, as well as the same in the USA. He traveled to all but four states in his lifetime.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 10 AM , with Chaplain Adam Leeper officiating. Military honors will be rendered following the committal service. Arrangements are entrusted to the Harold M. Zimmerman and Son Funeral Home, Inc., Greencastle, PA.