Fred Houston Garber, 77, of Huntingtown (Neeld Estate, Plum Point, MD), died Nov. 15, 2008, at home.

He was born Dec. 5, 1930, in Washington, D.C., to the late Clarence Anthony and Beulah Mae Garber.

He had lived most of his life in the Washington area but had moved to Calvert County in the late 90s to take care of his ailing mother, his father having passed away in 1980, and remained after she passed away in 2000. His father built a cottage at Neeld Estate in 1932 and the family spent every summer there until gas rationing during World War II stopped leisure travel which halted his father's summertime vocation of taking out fishing parties in his homemade 36 foot cabin cruiser, shared with easternshoreman Hedge Fairbanks of Tilghman Island and his 40 footer. Fred has stayed in the home in Neeld Estate and also kept the cottage in the "colony," mainly for "old time's sake" and because a niece, Gina Ghilardi, also loves to spend time there.

After graduating from Eastern High school in 1948, he began a banking career with Eastern Savings and Loan in southeast D.C., which was interrupted in 1951 when he joined the Air Force. He loved to travel and hoped to "see the world" when he and a buddy, Johnny "Cottontop" Williams, joined together. Johnny was sent to Morocco and made trips to Spain, France, Italy and Algeria, while Fred spent his entire tour of duty at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana!

Fred resumed his banking career after leaving the Air Force and retired as manager of a Citibank branch on MacArthur Blvd., NW. He made up for his lack of travel in the Air Force by touring and making cross country trips of the U.S. whenever he had the opportunity.

Survivors include a brother, Robert "Bob" and his wife, Christine Garber of Drum Point, Lusby, niece Gina Ghilardi, McLean, VA, nephews Andy Garber of Wheeling, WV, and Matt Garber of Raleigh, N.C.

He was predeceased by his parents, a sister, Linda Mae Ghilardi of McLean, VA., and a nephew, John Robert Garber of Lusby.

Funeral services were held Nov. 20, 2008, at Rausch Funeral Home, Owings. Interment was in the family plot at Ft. Lincoln cemetery, Brentwood, MD. The officiating minister was Rev. Walter Beaudwin of Smithville UM Church. Pallbearers were Michael "Andy" Garber of Wheeling, John Ghilardi of McLean, Reimund "Ray" Schuster of Dares Beach, Russell "Rusty" Channell of Neeld Colony, Michael "Mike" Matullo of Neeld Estate and Nicky Dyer of New York.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home, Owings.