John Carl Garrison, Jr. P.E., Col. USAR (Ret.), 83, passed away at his home in Sterling, VA on February 28, 2010. Born in Alexandria to Mary Travers Garrison and John Carl Garrison, Sr., Carl was a graduate of George Washington High School in Alexandria and the Virginia Military Institute Class 1947. Carl enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in World War II, returning to VMI when the war ended. Due to World War II, the VMI Class of 1947 was split into three groups, graduating at different times. After graduation, Carl worked as an engineer for Timber Company of America, and AMF, before joining NASA in the early years of the space program. He also served in the U.S. Army reserves, ultimately retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1981. Retiring from NASA in 1989, he then joined the engineering staff of the County of Loudoun, VA, and later pursued his interest in real estate. Mr. Garrison was a registered professional engineer and a licensed real estate agent/broker.

Mr. Garrison was an avid bridge player. He met his wife of 22 years, Suellen Garrison, while playing bridge. A die-hard fan, Carl started attending Redskins games with his father, held Redskins season tickets for many years, attending games with his wife, friends, and children.

He is survived by his wife Suellen, daughters Roberta Sue Brown and her husband Doug of Galena, MD, Mary Lee Behrle and her husband Bill of Mays Landing, NJ, and grandson Alex Brown, currently attending Elon University in North Carolina; and his aunts Katherine Hutcheson of Alexandria, VA, Eveline Travers of Heathsville, VA, and Frances Travers of San Luis Obispo, CA. He is also survived by his stepsons Glenn Jackson and wife Terry of Strasburg, VA, Bruce Jackson and wife Melissa of Clifton, VA, and stepdaughter Sharon Jackson and husband Gomez of Oakland, CA, and their six grandchildren, Brittney, Chelsea, Corey, Sydney, and A.J. Jackson, and Cézar Gomez, and extended family Kathy Satterfield of Sterling, VA, Shirley Main and husband Pat of Purcelllville, VA, two grandsons Alan Main, Roy Cole and wife Christi of Martinsburg, WV, two great grandsons, and one great granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 5, at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road, NE, Leesburg, VA with visitation from 7 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 4 and from 12 – 1 p.m. on Friday March 5. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Leesburg. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carl's memory to the VMI Foundation, 111 Smith Hall, Lexington, VA 24450.