Rudolph M. Garback

BARRE - Rudolph M. Garback, 91, died April 1 ^st , Easter Sunday, with loved ones by his side. Immediate family survivors include, Sue Garbark-Morton, of Barre, husband Robert Morton and their two sons, Jeff and Eric, and Gloria Garback, of Essex Junction and her daughter Alison Cooley, Grandpa’s special granddaughter who he thought the world of and loved so dearly. Rudy is predeceased by his loving wife of 64 years, Leona, who passed away April 20, 2017, his sister, Diana Edson, brothers, Richard and John. He predeceased his brother, Ted, by one day. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.

Rudy was born in Koppel, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1927, son of Victor Garback and Mary Sarson Garback. The family moved to Vermont shortly after he was born and settled in Montpelier. In high school, Rudy was a star basketball player and played all four years of high school, serving as captain his senior year. He graduated from Montpelier High School in 1945 and enlisted in the US Marine Corps, but was honorably discharged in 1946 after the war ended.

Rudy and all the Garback brothers fell in love with the sport of golf, starting with caddying at the Montpelier Country Club at the age of nine, earning a quarter for nine holes and fifty cents for eighteen. The love of golf continued for all of the Garback brothers, who all won MCC championships and other tournaments over the years.

In 1949, Rudy met his lifelong partner, Leona Converse, while she was a senior in high school. He would holler “49er” to her at the dances to get her attention. They fell in love and married on September 28, 1952 at the Old West Church in Calais. They lived many years on Barre Street in Montpelier. During that time, they had their two daughters, Susan and Gloria. They purchased a family camp on Lake Elmore where special family memories were made; they eventually sold the camp when they purchased the Alpine Motel in 1969. Rudy renovated the entire motel and home. They ran the motel until 1987 when they sold it and built their retirement home in Barre where they continued to reside until their passing.

Rudy spent most of his career as a mail carrier, starting out in Montpelier and eventually working as a rural mail carrier out of the Plainfield Post Office. He had so many mail patrons who appreciated his excellent mail service. After 33 years of service, he retired in 1983. He stayed retired for a while, but eventually decided to return to the work force. In 1989, he started working at Central Vermont Hospital in Materials Management where he stayed for 10 years, retiring from there in 1999. Rudy developed friendships wherever he worked. He always greeted folks with a smile and a joke and often a piece of candy. He was a hard worker but more importantly, he brought joy to those who knew him and therefore, built long lasting memorable friendships with patrons, colleagues, even waitresses and staff at some of his and Leona’s favorite eateries. He was famous for saying, “you have worked so hard; take the rest of the day off” and “I don’t want to bother you.” He had a way of brightening up people’s day, both loved ones and strangers.

After Rudy retired for good, he and Leona would take several weeks every spring and travel to Florida to spend special times with good friends. Their trips were always planned around attending the Master’s Tournament every year in Augusta, Georgia. Ironically, Rudy passed away right after 3:00 on April 1 ^st , when the final day of the tournament was just starting.

In addition to loving and providing for his family, his dedication to work and to golf, Rudy was also a hunter for many years. He and his hunting buddies owned a camp in Island Pond and he was fortunate to get a deer many of the years at the camp, including a bear on one occasion. He was also known as a pool shark, we suspect from additional hours he spent at the 19 ^th hole. He was a well-known member of the Montpelier Elks Club, a life-long member of the American Legion, the National Rural Carriers Association, and the Mutuo, where he was known for his ravenous appetite and would eat to his heart’s content at their dinners. He and Leona were also active members of the Hedding United Methodist Church until their health began to decline.

A graveside service will be held at the Berlin Corners Cemetery on Saturday, May 5 ^th at 2:00. Arrangements are being handled through Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home of Barre. For a memorial guestbook, visit www.hookerwhitcomb.com There will be a gathering at the family home following the service to celebrate his life and share special memories.

The family is grateful for the private caregivers who provided 24-hour care, some who had also cared for Leona up until her passing. Special blessings go out to Lauren who worked with both Rudy and Leona and became an intricate part of coordinating his care, spending countless hours of her own time, training and overseeing the others, to make sure he got the best care possible, right up until his final passing. Her dedication was instrumental in allowing him to pass on with dignity and grace. We also are grateful for Marie, who holds a special place in our hearts for the love and joy she brought to both of our parents.

Rudy was a giving person, and part of his giving included donating blood as often as allowed. It was so important to him to be able to help others, particularly Veterans, and saving lives in the process. In 2008, he was awarded Donor of the Year for his dedication. Therefore, we ask that memorial contributions be made to the American Red Cross. Please check out their website at https://www.redcross.org . for further information. Or, you can also contribute by becoming a blood donor. The Red Cross website lists blood drives offered in your area or you can contact your local Chapter for further information.

Rudy Garback, also known as Gabby, Vitz, Milan, Crafty Slav, Pool Shark, will be greatly missed, but will live on through special memories held by so many of us who remember him for his caring, generosity, and light-hearted jokes. We are sure he is either playing golf on the most beautiful golf course there is or dancing on the stars with his special wife Leona.