Funeral services for Wayne Garst were held Friday, April 15, 2022, in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tommy McDearis officiating. Interment followed in the Memorial Gardens of the New River Valley. The family received friends Thursday at McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
On Friday, April 15, at approximately 2:30 p.m. the siren on top of Fire Station #1 in downtown Blacksburg sounded during Wayne Garst’s gravesite procession.
In Blacksburg, many called him Firefighter Wayne.Others knew him through his career as an auctioneer.
Wayne joined the Blacksburg Fire Department as a volunteer in 1984, served as a volunteer First and Second Lieutenant, and was hired in 1995 as Fire Prevention Coordinator. In 1999 he became Fire Code Official, and in 2007 added firefighter to his title. He retired from the Town of Blacksburg in October 2020, and immediately returned to serve as a volunteer firefighter.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Blacksburg Fire Department.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Alison Garst; daughters Emily Garst (John Tedesco) and Katie Prewitt; step-children Vickie Foy (Matt) and Connor York; his mother, Mary Frances Garst; sisters Libby Heinemann and Mary Hendrickson; a brother, Jerry Garst; and nieces Morgan, Kellie, Leslie, Lindsay, and Kari, along with numerous great nephews and one great niece.
He was preceded in death by his father, Don Allen Garst.
As we all know, Wayne spent his whole life helping people. He will continue to save lives through the gift of organ donation.
