Garvin Holt Germany Jr.




Garvin Holt Germany Jr., 84, of Angleton, TX., passed away on August 21,2001, at
Plantation Health Care Center.

Garvin was born in Dallas, Texas on May 16, 1926, to Garvin Holt Germany Sr. and
Vera Emily Terry Germany.

He sat in his first airplane at age 6, a relic in a mechanics shop. He viewed overhead the
rigid airship of the navy, saw an autogiro come overhead, and at age 12 was building
models, and planning on building a real airplane. At age 15 he took his first instruction.

in flying and never quit for 63 years.

He was a WWII veteran, enlisting at age 17, serving in the Navy from 1944 to 1946 as a
tail gunner in PB4Y2-Privateers, flying in Navy Squadron VPBI22. The service was in
the North Pacific in the Alaska-Aleution Islands, flying from Attu and Shemya to Japan.
He was an aviation Ordnance Mate 3rd Class until the end of the War, at which time he
converted to and was promoted to Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class.

During the interim, before the Korean Conflict, Garvin flew as Flight Engineer in the Air
Force Reserves, flying principally in Curtis commando C46 Aircraft. Upon being called
to duty during the Korean Conflict as a 2nd Lieutenant, he served in the Air Force at
Washington D.C. Headquarters and as an OSI Agent for the Office of Special
Investigation of the Air Force at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, Texas for two years, being

separated from service as a I st Lieutenant.

Garvin was educated first at Tyler, and then at Highland Park High in Dallas, 1939 to

1942, then at Southern Methodist University and Texas A&M. Garvin graduated from

Southern Methodist University in 1950 with a BA Degree in Government, with a minor
in Economics, as well as an LLB from Law School, in 1955. Later such was converted to
a Juris Doctorate.

Garvin practiced law from 1955 until elected Judge of County Court at Law No 2 &
Probate in Brazoria County, Texas, in 1990, having served in such capacity until January
1999.

In the practice of law, Garvin served in Wichita Falls, Dallas, Houston, and in the Courts
of various counties as well as in Brazoria County from 1962. His principal trial
experiencewas in Dallas and Brazoria County.

He was admitted to The Federal Courts where his trial experience was extensive for the
practice in the Northern District, Eastern District, and Southern District, as well as the
Fifth Circuit court of Appeals in New Orleans, LA, and the court of Military Appeals in

Washington D.C.


Garvin was a member of the Brazoria County Bar Association from 1962, and The State

Bar of Texas and American Bar Association from 1955. He was active in the Dallas Bar

Association from 1956 to 1961 and served as President of the Dallas Junior Bar

Association in 1959.

Garvin was involved in various civic organizations, those included serving as president of

Kawanis, in Lake Jackson and as a Board Member of Rotary International in Sweeny,

Commander of the Angleton VFW, Chaplain of the Sweeny and Angleton VFW, and the

Angleton Veterans Honor Guard.

Garvin was first raised as a Master Mason in Meridian, TX. In 1947, having been a .
member of that Lodge and in Mesquite, TX. Before serving as Past Master of Lake
Jackson Masonic Lodge 1317. He holds dual memberships I Brazoria, Angleton, and
Frontier Lodge. In Angleton he served omterm as Secretary. He also was a Charter
Member of restoring the Charter of Frontier Lodge 28 as a Historic Lodge. Also he was
awarded various awards as a Master Mason, and fmally having received recognition by
the Texas Grand Lodge as having served over sixty years.

Garvin received The Golden Trowel Award in the Lake Jackson Masonic Lodge, which
is designated as the highest award Masonry can bestow upon a member, and was given an
Endowed Membership in the Lake Jackson Lodge. He further was a member of The
Eastern Star, York Rite, Scottish Rite and The Shrine.

Garvin was also an avid historian, working as a volunteer at The Brazoria Community
Historical Museum in Brazoria, TX. And having served also as a Board Member in the
Brazoria county Historical Museum in Angleton, TX. And The Brazoria County
Historical Commission.

After serving as a Board Member of the Brazoria County Museum, Garvin worked as a

volunteer at the Museum on various projects, one of these projects was the securing and
recording oral interviews with over fifty "Old Timers".

His greatest pride at the Museum was three and a half years restoring models of the first
four vessels that The Texas Navy had purchased, and the building from scratch a model
of the "Freeport Sulphur No.5" for the M\lseum. He also was active in the Sons of the
American Revolution and the Sons of the Confederacy. Garvin further was a
Commander of the Angleton VFW in 2002-2003 and also was a member of the American
Legion since 1960.

Garvin has been a member of the Methodist Church since 1935 and has served numerous
offices in the church and taught Sunday School Classes in the various churches. His
current membership is First United Methodist in Angleton.

Garvin was a model Airplane and ship builder from age 7, and financ~learning to fly real
airplanes by mowing lawns beginning in 1941. Also his most fulfilling pastimes as an
adult was restoring old airplanes which had been damaged and then flying them.

!


Garvin is survived by his wife, Joyce, daughters, Cindy Lou Beswick (Tom) of
Colleyville, Texas, and Terri Germany of Canyon Lake, Texas, stepchildren, Kenneth
Eugene Welch of Pearl and, Texas, Darryl Wayne Welch (Ilse) of Lake Jackson, Texas,
and Carol Ann Krueger of Angleton, Texas; 19 Grandchildren and 13 Great-
grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Garvin Holt Germany Sr., Vera
Emily Terry Germany, and Step-son Donald Glenn Welch.

Visitation will be Friday, August 27,2010 from 5-7 at Palms Funeral Home

Memorial services are set for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 28, 2010

at First United Methodist Church in Angleto~ Texas.

In lieu of usual remembrances, donations may be made to the Brazoria County.
Historical:. Society or the Leukemia Society.


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