Garth Duncan Bayer
Marriages
Mildred Jarrett Bayer - September 20, 1953
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 8 - September 5, 1957
Garth D. BAYER was born in Red Cliff March 9, 1926 to Howard and Ethel BAYER and died in Lancaster, Calif., August 9, 1957.
He grew to manhood in Minturn, where he attended grad and high school and was a member of Boy Scout troop 30, working from Cub Scout to Life Scout. At the time he left Minturn for the Navy during World War II, Mr. BAYER was assistant Scoutmaster at Minturn.
He served with the Navy from Pearl Harbor until the war's close, earning the Victory medal, Asiatic-Pacific campaign medal and the Philippine Liberation Campaign ribbon. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Mr. BAYER returned to finish his high school work at Red Cliff Union High, later attending and graduating from Western Radio Institute.
For the past six years he has been associated with North American and Northrup Aviation in California.
On Sept. 20, 1953 he was married to Mildred JARRETT and they made their home in Lancaster, Calif.
Mr. BAYER was a member of the First Presbyterian church at Minturn and Post 8309, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Funeral services were held at Munaw Funeral Home in Lancaster August 14. His ashes were returned to Minturn for burial in the family plot in River View cemetery where graveside services conducted by VFW Post 8309 and Farnum Mortuary, were held August 31.
Surviving are his son, Garth Richard; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. G. BAYER; his sister, Mary Frances BALDO of Grants, N. M. and brother, Ralph of Pomona, Calif.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - August 15, 1957
GARTH BAYER WIFE DIE IN DOUBLE SHOOTING.
Garth BAYER< former Minturn man, died of a self-inflicted bullet Friday afternoon, after he fired three shots at his wife at Lancaster, Calif.
The tragedy followed a series of domestic and financial difficulties, as Garth attempted a reconciliation.
Working a night shift at Northrop Aviation, Garth drove to a grill where his wife was employed late Friday afternoon. Mrs. BAYER was on her lunch break and joined her husband in his car, where he attempted to effect the reconciliation. Witnesses said she got out of the car and had crossed to the opposite street when three bullets were fired at her back. California friends of the couple stated they believed Garth fired the first shot in anger over his failure to straighten out the difficulties and to frighten his wife into returning to the car. When he saw he had hit Mrs. BAYER, he apparently panicked and fired the second and third shots, before turning the 22 rifle on himself, firing the bullet under his chin, and died almost instantly. Mrs. BAYER was taken to a hospital, and died Tuesday noon.
Friends stated that there was another man involved, and that Mrs. BAYER had threatened divorce in order to re-marry. The friends stated that Garth was "frantic" over the possibility of losing is three-year old son, Rickey, for whose sake he had hoped to keep the family together.
Mrs. BAYER had three children by a former marriage. A married daughter, a teenage son and a five-year old daughter, all living with Garth.
Three-year old Rickey will live with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph BAYER of Pomona, Calif., who have five children of their own.
Garth, 31, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard G. BAYER, prominent Minturn family. His father is critically ill in Mt. View Nursing Home in Glenwood, and has not been told of his son's death.
Garth is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Alex BALDO of Grants, New Mexico.
A service for Garth was held in Lancaster Wednesday and his ashes will be returned to Glenwood to Farnum Mortuary. Arrangements will be made for a memorial service, the place yet undecided.
