Benjamin Albert Garber

Benjamin Albert Garber, 84, of Lake Charles, Louisiana died peacefully with his family by his side on Father's Day, June 21, 2015. Mr. Garber was born on May 04, 1931 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and was the only child of Albert Mason and Edith Rutherford Garber. He grew up on the Gulf Coast in Oak Grove, Louisiana and graduated valedictorian of Creole High School. In 1956, he graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He served his country in the United States Army Corps of Engineers in Alaska in the early 1950s and then followed in his father's footsteps when he began a career of international construction management. Mr. Garber worked in many countries over his career, mostly in South America and Africa including the Middle East. He led several large projects from initiating the build of the US Embassy in South Africa to building the largest water treatment plant in Cairo, Egypt where he met the former president, George H. W. Bush. He retired as the manager of Kuwait Operations in 1993 after completing an oilfield reconstruction project in Kuwait after the Gulf War. He developed many long-term friendships through his work around the world. He was a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the Louisiana Engineering Society, a licensed Professional Engineer and a licensed Land Surveyor. In his free time, he was drawn to boating. He along with his wife, Patricia, were 45 year members of the Lake Charles Sail & Power Squadron where he earned the grade of Senior Navigator. He truly enjoyed teaching boating courses and sharing his boating knowledge, thus another group of long-term friendships emerged. He also loved woodworking and built many items for his boats, his family and a few lucky friends. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Clay Garber of Lake Charles, LA; his daughter, Jennifer Garber Abermanis and husband Rolands Juris Abermanis of Seattle, Washington; his son, Benjamin Albert Garber, Jr, and wife Trisha Ortego Garber of Lake Charles, LA; his grandson, Andris Benjamin Abermanis and his granddaughter, Helena Mara Abermanis. Mr. Garber is preceded in death by his daughter, Rebecca Ann Garber. There will be a scripture and nautical service held on Tuesday evening, June 23, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Home at 7 PM. Mr. Garber's funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 10 AM at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 935 Bilbo Street in Lake Charles. Reverend Monsignor Jace F. Eskind will officiate. Burial will be in the Highland Memory Gardens under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will begin on Tuesday, June 23rd at 4 PM in the funeral home. Visitation will continue at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, June 24th at the funeral home until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to honor Mr. Garber can be made to the Lake Charles Sail & Power Squadron to assist with boating education or to the charity of your choice.