Gary Ralph Oltz, husband, dad, step-dad, granddad, great granddad, brother, friend, age 73 of West Columbia, Texas passed away at UTMB Galveston, with family by his side. As we all know Gary loved his Lord, family, and his old westerns. He was an elder & greeter at Wild Peach Community Church. He is preceded in death by his first wife of 37 years, JoAnn Roe Oltz, his biological parents, Jack & Ada Hare, his adopted parents, Meril & Alice Oltz, "Military" adopted parents, Gene & Arlene Martin, and his sister, Myra (Mike) Vigillotti. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Susan Kay Oltz, children Robert Oltz & wife Georgia, Troy Oltz & wife Regina, Dwayne Oltz & wife Brittney, Phillip Carpenter & wife Misty, Thomas Carpenter & wife Brittany, many grand & great grandchildren, nieces & nephews, brothers Merton (Tex) Dunn, Gene Martin & wife Wendy, John Martin, sister Susan Martin Mayer Pyle & husband Roger, many members of
the Roe Family, and numerous other relatives and friends.

Gary was born in Town of Union (now Binghamton) New York, raised in Ithaca, New York and various other towns surrounding the lower Cayuga Lake area. He joined the Navy in February 1965. He had been in the Navy Reserve for 2 years prior to going into Regular Navy. He served during the "Cold War" & the "Vietnam war" as a Radioman on several ships & shore duty locations. He was discharged in December 1972. He went back to school in San Diego, CA and received a degree in Mechanical & Architecture Drafting, moved to Wilton, New Hampshire and worked in a machine shop, learning the Machinest trade. He moved to the Brazoria area in 1975, worked for several Machine Shop Companies in the Brazosport area, and was hired by DOW Chemical in December 1979 and retired 29 years later in December 2008. Not ready to retire, he went into the "Hot Shot" Delivery Business for a few years. Medical conditions from "Agent Orange" forced him to retire from actually working. He still kept busy, assisting other Veterans in and out of the area. Helping other vets was his passion. At the time of his death, he was an active member of American Legion Post 561 in Brazoria, Commander of Chapter 39, DAV of Angleton, Committee Member of Brazoria County Cavalry.

In lieu of Flowers Gary has asked for donations to be sent to:
Wild Peach Community Church
Youth and Children's Department
PO Box 1621 Brazoria, Tx 77422

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