Garland Radford Obituary

Major Garland Lee Radford, USMC, age 91 passed away on August 25,2025 in Leesburg, FL. He was a native of Collingswood, NJ and attended Collingswood High School Class of 1952. He was married to the former Marlene Susanne Eckhardt of Oaklyn, NJ for 54 years. Marlene passed away in 2016. He loved his summers as a Lifeguard in Wildwood Crest, NJ and the beach in his youth. He was in the Naval Reserve when he opted to join the Marine Corps following High School Graduation. Lee was a career Marine who came up through the ranks and a retired Lockheed Martin Manager. His career was diversified with assignments as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, a Division Swimming Instructor, Infantry, Logistics and Independent Duty. While serving with a Recruiting Station staff, he was selected for retraining in the field of Avionics. He was a Marine Warrant Officer when he was selected for Commissioned Officer in 1966. As an officer he had assignments in Avionics, R&D, Aircraft Maintenance and Air Intercept Control. He was a Vietnam Veteran. In 1976 he decided to retire and return to College. He received an AA Degree (Highest Honors) while on active duty from the University of South Carolina. Following retirement he completed his BA in Finance (Cum Laude) at the University of South Florida. He received a Masters Degree from the Crummer School of Business, Rollins College. He held positions in Finance, Industrial Engineering, MIS, Engineering and Production Operations in his second career. He had an obsession with wanting to be involved with different challenges. Following retirement he got bored and was an armed security officer with Brinks. In 2001 he went into full retirement. He was a Charter Member and Past National President of The Marine Corps Mustang Officers Association as well as a Charter Member and twice Commandant of Detachment 1267 of the Marine Corps League, in The Villages, FL and Judge Advocate of the same Detachment, a member of the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans Association and the Marine Corps Aviation Association. He was an ardent runner for years and ran the Disney Marathon at age 63. Injuries took him out of running and he developed a passion for golf, bowling and the Gym. Marlene and Lee moved to The Villages, Florida in 2005 where a Basset Hound named "Semper Fi" joined them. He is survived by Nephew Lewis Gilbert and Niece Jill Gilbert, Kim Pintozzi and Shawn Alvarez of Williamstown, NJ, Nephew Bryon Ray of Melbourne Beach, FL. He will be interred with Military Honors at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Leesburg, Florida. In lieu of Flowers donations can be made to "Toys for Tots Foundation" and mailed to Marine Corps League Det 1267, 11962 CR 101, Ste 302, PMB # 112, The Villages, FL 32162.