Hugh Clay Garst, 70, of Salem, passed away on Monday, December 24, 2007 from prostate cancer. He was predeceased by an infant son, Victor Clay Garst and his parents, Claude Defoist Garst and Dollie Mae Wood Garst. Hugh received his Geology Degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and his Masters in Business Administration from Radford University. Hugh was a certified professional Geologist in the states of Virginia, California, and North Carolina. He worked as an Engineering Geologist for Hayes, Seay, Mattern, and Mattern for 38 years. Prior to these accomplishments, Hugh graduated from Ferrum Junior College, where he was a member of the Ferrum Panther Basketball Team, lettering twice. He worked at General Electric as a tool room machinist while going to night school. After retirement, he worked for HSM&M as a consultant. Hugh was a member of the Lakeland Masonic Lodge # 190, the American Legion, Trout Unlimited and was a life long tennis player, ranked as high as 5th in the State of Virginia for the 60 year old age division. He was listed in Outstanding Men of America in 1968 and 1969, a member of Northview United Methodist Church, serving on the Administrative Board, and a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Charlotte Anne Jewell Garst; a son, Clay Alexander Garst and wife, Margaret Daigle Garst, of Raleigh, NC; two grandchildren, Tessa Ann Garst and Anna Rose Garst. Also surviving are his brother, Michael L. Garst; sisters, Connie Garst Nichols, Sandra Garst Hunter and husband, George, all of Roanoke; aunt, Frances H. Kondratiuk; cousins, Helen Garst Taylor, Suzanne Hannabass, Danny Hannabass, June T. Dennis, and Edward Trent; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be made to Ferrum College Office of Development, Hank Norton Athletic Center, P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, Va. 24088, Northview United Methodist Church, 521 Ridecrest Drive, Roanoke, va. 24019, or St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 42 East main Street, Salem, Va. 24153. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 29, 2007, at Northview United Methodist Church by the Rev. Bart Weakley and the Rev. R. Bradley Laycock. Interment with Masonic Grave Rites will follow in Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road.

ROANOKE TIMES, Thurs, Dec 27, 2007