Warren Edwin Garner

Warren Edwin Garner
Clemson, SC

Warren Edwin Garner, 91, of Clemson, passed away Thursday, October 24, 2013 at National Healthcare of Anderson.

Mr. Garner was born in Warthen, GA, a son of the late James Stephens and Narcissus Cummings Garner.

He attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA and the University of Georgia in Athens, where he received his BS and MS degrees in agricultural engineering. He attended Biarritz-American University in France and also attended and instructed at American University of Berlin during World War II. He had a research career of over 33 years, with the last 24 years in cotton ginning research. He began his research career at the University of Georgia Agricltural Experiment Station, 1946 to 1955, where he did research on mechanical processing of farm products. He later joined the U. S. Department of Agriculture and helped establish the Southeastern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory at Clemson, SC, where he served as engineer in charge from 1961 to 1973. He transferred to the U. S. Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory at Stoneville, MS in 1973 and was named Laboratory Director in 1975. In addition to his duties as director of the laboratory, Mr. Garner served as technical advisor for all USDA cotton ginning research and on numerous technical committees. He was author of over fifty publications on agricultural processing research, and gave over forty presentations to professional and industrial groups. He was elected to membership in the AGHON Society of the University of Georgia, PHI KAPPA PHI, and SIGMA XI, honorary societies and was an active member of The American Society of Agricultural Engineers for many years. He was also a long time member of Clemson Lions Club, and served as treasurer for 12 years. During World War II, Mr Garner served with the U. S. Army Engineers in the ETO. He was in the first contingent of American Troops to enter Berlin as they arrived to set up facilities for the Potsdam Conference in June, 1945.

He was a member of Clemson United Methodist Church, where he served in several capacities including many years on the board of trustees and several terms on the district board of church location and building. He also served as chairman of the administrative board and chairman of the board of trustees of Leland United Methodist Church in Leland, MS.

Surviving are his wife, Maude Hodges Garner; a daughter, Jan Oden and her husband Bill of Wilmington, NC; grandchildren, Charlotte Elizabeth Oden, William Kellam Oden IV, Mary Garner Oden, John Warren Oden, and James Lawson Oden; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Garner was predeceased by three brothers, Lawson, B. E. (Beverly), and J. S. Garner and a sister Zena Causey.

Memorial services will be held, Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 3:00 P. M. at Clemson United Methodist Church. A reception will follow the service at the church.

Burial will be at 1:00 P.M. on Monday in Bethlehem Cemetery, Warthen, GA.

Memorials may be made to Clemson United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 590, Clemson, SC 29633 or Pine Hill United Methodist Church, c/o Marjorie Sheppard, 2102 Bay Springs Rd., Warthen, GA 31094.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central, which is assisting the family.