Dorothy M. Garrett

After more than nine decades of deep engagement and service to her community, Dorothy M. Garrett passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Otterbein in Granville.

Born on January 18, 1929 in Frederic, Wisconsin to Hedvig Malm Myers and George Washington Myers, Dorothy grew up in Minnesota and moved with her family to California during World War II. She was a proud graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in History. After college she became a teacher and married Howard M. Garrett in 1952. Their family of seven settled in Granville in 1968.

While she taught only intermittently after starting a family, Dorothy remained engaged in extending knowledge of history and art to children and adults. She was a docent for the Columbus Museum of Art, the Robbins Hunter Museum, and the Granville Historical Society, where she was honored with the Buck Sargent Volunteer Award for lifetime contribution. She was a member and past president of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Chapter AB Granville and rarely missed a meeting.

Dorothy was committed to our participatory democracy: she was an active member of the League of Women Voters and of the American Association of University Women, presiding judge for the Licking County Board of Elections, an elected member of the Granville Village Council, and frequent advocate for people and issues in the civic realm. Other significant activities included being a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church, board membership of the State Library Board and YWCA, and active membership of the Central Ohio Weavers Guild, Granville Music Club, TWIG, and the Kendal (Otterbein) Residents Council.

In recognition of Dorothy's service, she was inducted into the Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2020. As a nomination letter for that award stated, "Dorothy Garrett is the "real deal" when it comes to being active in a constructive manner to making one's community a better place to live."

Surviving are her children, Liz Himes of Littleton CO, Christine Kovach (Ken Shafer) of Wooster, Peter Garrett of Columbus, Mike Garrett of Newark, and Susan Garrett (Robin Queen) of Chelsea, MI; grandchildren, Kate Kovach, James Himes, Marshall Garrett, Megan Himes, Sarah Severa, Alice Garrett, and Zack Garrett; great grandchildren, Kayley, Orion, Raven, Tyler, Juniper, Ireland, Austin, Coraline, Lucy, Max, Harper, Addison, and Mackenzie.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Dorothy will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Broadway in Granville with Rev. Wallace Bubar as celebrant.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Howard.

Memorial contributions may be made to Granville Historical Society, PO Box 129, Granville, OH 43023; the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215 https://www.columbusmuseum.org/; or P.E.O., https://www.peointernational.org

Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeeekhoekstra.com