Kenneth Wayne Garlitz

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Kenneth Wayne Garlitz, 78, of Midland, passed away on February 9, 2025. A visitation will begin at 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 16 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Services will be on Monday, February 17th at Stonegate Fellowship.

Ken was born on August 11, 1946 in Jesup, Georgia to Herb and Mary Garlitz. The family, including his older brother Richard, settled in Balmorhea, Texas after his father’s return from World War II. After graduating from Balmorhea High School where he played football, basketball, track, and tennis, he enrolled at Texas Tech University before being drafted into the military. After serving in Germany and Vietnam, he was discharged in 1970, where he began working for the Ft. Stockton Highway Department. After returning to school in 1971, he graduated in 1973 with a B.S. in Physical Education with Honors from the University of Texas. He then took up a position in Pecos, TX as a high school tennis coach, 7th Grade history teacher, and PBTISD bus driver. Ken earned his Masters of Education degree from Sul Ross State University in 1979. He married Kathryn Walker in 1980 and they lived in Pecos when their son Timothy was born in 1983. Ken was named teacher of the year at Zavala Middle School for the 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 school seasons. Ken remained in Pecos until his retirement from Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and moved to join the family Midland, TX in 2002. Ken then continued driving the bus full time for Midland ISD until his retirement in 2017, where he received Driver Of The Year in 2007.

Ken is survived by his wife Kathy and son Timothy.

Ken is preceded in death by his father and mother, Herbert Garlitz and Mary Garlitz-Kinzler, his stepfather Conrad Kinzler, his brother Richard Lewis Garlitz, and grandparents William Albertus Garlitz, Emily Frances Gaines, Silas Garraway Merritt, and Martha Beatrice Merritt.

The family would like to express their gratitude towards Midland Memorial Hospital staff.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Stonegate Missions for the ministries of the Johnsons and the Elkins at stonegatefellowship.com or to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 6552 Fiesta Street, El Paso, TX 79912.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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