Ramon A. Garrett, 94, of Belleville, IL, born January 16, 1931, in Racine, WI, died Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Dammert Geriatric Center, Belleville, IL.
Mr. Garrett had a long and distinguished career at McDonnell Aircraft Company in St. Louis, MO. He rose to prominence in the field of structures, specializing in composite structures. He was named distinguished engineer of the year by AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and authored and co-authored more than a dozen technical papers published in many technical journals.
He was responsible for heat-shield structural design of the Mercury and Gemini space capsules, as well as the airlock used in the Skylab program and several aspects of the Apollo Lunar Program related to structural design. He was responsible for structural design of the APS “Pods” on the space shuttle, contributing an innovative analysis method for that program. He was also responsible for the structural analysis and design of the F-4 wing structure.
Mr. Garrett graduated from Parks College with honors and served in the Air Force Reserves, following as an Air Force active-duty officer, and becoming a Korean War veteran. Mr. Garrett was also an accomplished musician, being proficient at saxophone and clarinet, and participating, in the recent past, in the Belleville Band as well as the Italian Swing Band in St. Louis, MO. Ramon was a wonderful husband and father, and he will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Vlasta, nee Jansa, Garrett; and a brother, Irvin (Dorothy) Garrett.
He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Janet Garrett, nee Wuerz; six children, Greg (Angie) Garrett, Dan Garrett, Mary Garrett, Linda Coleman (Carl Pandolfi), Amy Garrett, and Diane (Val) Rukavina; 11 grandchildren, Nick, Mitchell, and Heather Garrett, Amanda Bullock, Michael Rudman, Wilke Coleman, Keller Crow, Heidi Rukavina, Ginger Rukavina, Emily Dyer, and Ace Rukavina; and six great-grandchildren, Stella, Emmy, Oliver, Redd, Dash and Clark.
Memorials may be made to the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A funeral procession will leave at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, for 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Belleville, with Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, officiating.
Burial will be at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
