Walter Garrett Gilmer

Walter Garrett Gilmer of Fairway Drive, passed away Sunday August 21, 2016 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Thursday August 25, 2016 at Piedmont Funeral Home. A family graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday August 26, 2016 at Burke Memorial Gardens in Morganton,N.C. Mr. Gilmer was born in McDowell County, West Virginia on January 20, 1934 to the late Walter Henry Gilmer and Nannie Lee Fuller Gilmer. Mr. Gilmer was a retired Lt. Col. In the United States Air Force with 21 years served. After a move to Lexington he owned and operated the Bonanza Steak House. He was a retired ROTC instructor with the Winston Salem and Forsyth County Schools. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Kaye Gilmer and brother, Sydney Gilmer. He was a loving husband ,father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle. Surviving are his wife and best friend, Loretta Warren Gilmer of the home; daughters, Cindi Gilmer Archer and husband Don of Clayton; Sandra Gilmer of Lexington; grandchildren, Erin Archer-Howell and husband Bradley of Clayton: Jason Archer and wife Kristie of Clayton; great grandchildren, Carmen Howell and Charles Archer, brother, Henry Gilmer of Georgia; sisters, Mary Emmert of Archdale and Maxine Gibson of Sophia; special sister in law Carolyn Warren Jessee and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to, D.C. Workshop c/o Mike Foster, PO Box 906, Lexington,NC 27293 or to Special Olympics of Davidson County, PO Box 1067, Lexington,NC 27293.