Robert Garrett

Robert Garrett was born on October 18, 1937 in Oklahoma City to Tom and Phyllis Garrett. He was the fourth of five children. He attended Classen High School, graduating in 1955. He was an Eagle Scout and earned the Order of the Arrow. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he served as President of the ISA and was selected as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Senior Men. He was a member of Phi Eta Sigma, Pe-Et and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA with Distinction with a triple major in history, philosophy and literature. Robert served in the Army as a Second Lieutenant during college and then served in the Oklahoma National Guard finishing as a Captain and the Postal Officer for the Guard.He married Jane Thompson on August 25, 1961 in Oklahoma City. He obtained a Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University in 1964 and was a member of Phi Delta Phi. He worked many years in the banking industry and then served as a federal Bankruptcy Trustee for the Western District. He was an adjunct faculty member at both Oklahoma City University and Oklahoma City Community College in the area of business. He spent many years as certified arbitrator. He was recently recognized by the Oklahoma Bar Association for 50 years of service as an attorney. He served as President of the North Oklahoma City Rotary Club and also served many years as a volunteer in literacy and mediation programs. Jane Garrett passed away on September 25, 2019 at the age of 81. They had been married 58 years. One of Robert's greatest joys was his two daughters, Elizabeth Garrett who served as the first women president of Cornell University until her death and Laura Garrett who serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Tulsa Community College. But his greatest joy of all was his two grandchildren, Sarah Gruntmeir who is a graduate student at Washington State and Robert Gruntmeir who is a student at the University of Southern California. Papa was known for telling jokes long before Dad Jokes were cool. So, pass along your favorite joke to someone you love today in his honor.The family request memorial contributions to the Elizabeth Garrett History Scholarship at the University of Oklahoma in lieu of flowers.