Charles Garrison

Charles Pendleton Garrison (Charlie) died July 6, 2019, from natural causes. He was born in St. Petersburg to Mary Lancaster and Ernest Ellsworth Garrison on November 14, 1928. His family moved to Tampa in 1934. He attended Mitchell, Wilson and Plant High schools graduating in 1946. He then was enrolled in the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, graduating in 1950 optime merens and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was Number One of Alpha Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, member of ODK and Blue Key honorary societies and Editor of the Annual. In December 1950 he was inducted into the Army, rose to Sergeant, and then received a direct commission to 2nd Lieutenant. After several years in the Army Reserves, he retired as Captain. He subsequently earned his MBA at the University of Indiana.

In January 1953 he began a career in the savings and loan business at First Federal of Tampa. After 10 years he moved on to First Federal of St. Petersburg and Sarasota Federal, and then to Orlando as President and CEO of Florida Savings and Loan Services, a data processing and commercial mortgage service owned by most of the Florida S&Ls. In 1953 he became a member of the Rotary Club of Tampa where he became a Director and then President for the 1963-64 year during which the club celebrated its 50th year anniversary. In 1964 he was named President of the Tampa Association of Civic Club Presidents. Subsequently, he became a member of the St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Orlando clubs before re-joining Tampa Rotary.

In Orlando he gained real estate and mortgage licenses first with Florida Ranchlands, and then in Tampa first with Tax Adjustment Experts and then with Property Tax Consultants, retiring as owner.

Charlie was a member of Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club for over 60 years, and previously a 59-year member of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. He had also belonged to the University Club of Tampa, Tampa Yacht and Country Club, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, and the Orlando Country Club. Genealogical memberships were the Huguenot Society, Jamestown Society and Sons of the American Revolution.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Anne Ashton Garrison; daughter, Alline Garrison Hope of Columbia, South Carolina; granddaughter, Elizabeth Anne Hope Hinchman (husband Bryce) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado and grandson Donald Walker Hope, Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee and several other nieces and nephews. He was tragically preceded by Anne Ashton Garrison Kelly at age 58. In-laws are David Michael Kelly and grandsons Patrick Michael Kelly and MacKinley Crawford Kelly, all of Columbia. He was also predeceased by his parents and brother Ernest Ellsworth Garrison and sister Mary Jane Garrison Trollinger.

His church memberships included St. Michael’s Episcopal in Orlando, St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church in Largo, and he was a member and past vestryman of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Tampa. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 11 at St. Andrew’s at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to be made to the St. Andrew’s Foundation or Tampa Rotary Club Foundation.