Robert D. Garrard

Dec. 12, 1957-March 12, 2017

Ninilchik resident Mr. Robert David Garrard, 59, died Sunday, March 12, 2017 at his home in Ninilchik.

Robert was born Dec. 12, 1957, in Waterbury, Conn. “He was the best mechanic I know,” his family said. He moved to Juneau in 2010 and most recently moved to Ninilchik in July of 2016. He worked as an oiler on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System and was getting ready to retire soon. Robert was a devoted and honorable husband and father to Lindi and Liberty Garrard. He was always a reliable person to help fix your boat when he lived on a boat for five years in Juneau.

He was in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1979. He left his legacy of being one of the best marine, aviation and diesel mechanics in Southeast Alaska. He moved to Alaska in 2010 and most recently moved to Ninilchik in July of 2016 to be with Ryan, his best friend and nephew. “We all were looking forward to his retirement,” his family said. Robert and Ryan were looking forward to start bee keeping and a rabbit farm and to be able to spend time together in the shop.

Nancy, his baby sister, remembers he loved setting the pace so high that she would always run to keep up. Lindi knows that he loved Nancy very much. Robert was a devoted and honorable husband to Lindi. She remembers how dedicated he would get in everything and anything he put his hands on and his mind to. Their favorite thing to do at 6 p.m. was watch Jeopardy then Wheel of Fortune. He was so smart.

He has always loved animals and animals loved him. He loved his camera and would go hiking and take awesome pictures of wildlife. He was a great truck driver for many years. He never fathered any children, but he was so proud and loved Lindi’s adult kids, Quaid and Jordyn, and they loved him back. He also had two new grand babies, Elias and Nevaeh. They were very important to him.

He leaves behind his wife, Lindi, of Skagway, Alaska; his mother, Elizabeth Garrard of San Jose, Calif.; brother, Frank Garrard of Modesto, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law Richard and Cynthia Garrard of Nyssa, Ore.; sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Bruce Hushbeck, and sister Mary Wood, all of San Jose. He was predeceased by his father, Robert Lloyd Garrard.

Arrangements made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel &Crematory. Please visit or sign his online guestbook at AlaskanFuneral.com.