Gary Edward Faehnrich, of Perdido Beach, passed away, Dec. 5, 2012 after a gallant fight with cancer. He was born May 29, 1945 in Cleveland, Ohio.
After graduating from Garfield Heights High, in 1964, he joined the Navy to fight in Vietnam. He was a member of the National Guard. He received the National Defense and The Viet Nam Service Medals. He and his family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1970, then came the rest of the way south to become darn Yankees that visited and stayed in 1975. He was a member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church of Elberta, The American Legion, and a lifetime member of the VFW. He joined the Girl Scouts in 1976 when his daughter, was a Brownie. He was active with his son, Todd's troop. As recently as last summer, he continued the tradition by camping with his grandsons, Caleb and lsaiah, and their pack. He was instrumental in building at the Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio zoos. As an electrician, he worked on nuclear plants in Argentina, in the Gulf of Mexico for Chevron, was head of the electrical department of the Foley Home Depot, and most recently was employed with Mills, Harvey, and Crouch Electrical. He was project manager at the Foley, library’s renovation, and the Toyota dealership in Loxley. He owned Treasures Gift store in Elberta. Proceeded in death by his parents, Edward and Lucille, and a brother, Harold of Cleveland, Ohio. He has left behind his devoted wife of 45 years, Barbara (Thoburn); a daughter, Dawn (Patrick Finley) of Savannah Ga, and a son, Todd (Lina) of Elsanor. His grandchildren were the light of his life. Caleb, lsaiah, and Charis Faehnrich, and James Finley will miss their grandpa. He is succeeded by a large family in Cleveland, Ohio including a sister, Margaret Barnhardt (Ron); brothers, Robert, and Donald (Patricia), aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends too numerous to list, but were much loved. A funeral Mass was held at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, in Elberta. I’ll just repeat what I have heard over and over "He was a good guy'' and will be greatly missed. He touched many with his handsome, happy face and optimistic outlook on life. Donations in his name would be appreciated to the recent charity being founded. lt is to be a yearly event to help families with medical expenses, during the holidays. To honor his love of humor, the Charity is a challenge among the merchants of Elberta for the Tackiest attired business. Photos will be posted around town for your viewing. Donations=Votes. Contributions can be made to ELF Fund c/o Centennial Bank P.O. Box 337 Elberta, AL 36530 or a donation to any Children's Charity would also be appropriate in lieu of flowers.
