Garstang was active in business community

DOWNEY - Robert Edward Garstang passed away June 28 at The Villa assisted-living residence in Downey. He was 98.He was born Oct. 13, 1910 in a farmhouse in Linn, Mo. He was a resident of Downey for more than 50 years and was active in civic and community business affairs for much of that time. Garstang came to California in 1929. His first job was with the First National Bank in downtown Los Angeles. He graduated from the American Institute of Banking and Accounting in 1936. During WWII, he was employed as a cost accountant at North American Aviation in Inglewood. He entered the real estate business following the war, and was a member of the California Real Estate Association and the National Association of Real Estate Boards. In 1952 he served as vice president of the Southeast Realty Board and was elected president in 1953. He was elected a director of the California Real Estate Association and continued to serve for 15 years - 10 of those years as legislative chairman. Garstang received awards in 1963 and 1968 for his achievements from the Downey Board of Realtors and the California Real Estate Association. In 1968, Garstang joined World Savings and Loan as a loan officer and retired as vice president in 1975. He is survived by his brothers, Thomas of Bells, Tenn. and William of Belle, Mo.; daughters, Lorraine and Janet; sons, Robert Elliott and Donald; grandchildren, Kirsten and Derek; and great-grandchildren, Zane, Mattea and Aaron. Services were held Wednesday at Rose Hills Memorial Chapel.

********** Published: July 10, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 12