Annette Elizabeth Garver 
1934-2026
 
A Celebration of Life for Annette Garver will be on Saturday October 10, 2 pm EDT at the Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Greenville, SC. For those unable to attend, the celebration will be livestreamed and also available to view later using this link: https://youtube.com/live/LkxJELlEYhs?feature=share

Annette Elizabeth Garver passed away on July 25, 2026 in Green Valley, AZ at the age of 91, with her daughter by her side. Annette was born October 6, 1934 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the youngest of 4 children of Walter B. Garver and Daveda Hansen Garver. Her older sister Yvonne passed away at age 2, before Annette was born.

Annette’s family lived in Antioch Illinois before relocating to Maryland for her father’s work. Her father married Dorothy (Wosikowski) Garver in 1946, and Annette was very close to Dorothy and excited to welcome their two children, her half-siblings Jeffrey Garver and Susie (Garver) Klein. Annette graduated from Montgomery Junior College in Maryland, and studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She then moved to Washington D.C. where she worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and met and married Forrest Halter. They lived in Virginia before settling in Greenville SC in 1963, with their 2 children.

Annette returned to school as an adult and received an Associate of Applied Science degree in Data Processing from Greenville Technical College, a Bachelor of General Studies from Furman University in 1979, and an MBA from Clemson University in 1987. She worked for Liberty Life Insurance Company for 22 years, beginning in Data Processing and retiring as an Assistant Vice President in 1995. She received numerous awards and certifications during her time at Liberty Life.

Annette married the love of her life, Leslie Matthew “Bub” Clark Jr. in 1976. They enjoyed 21 years of marriage, until he passed away in October 1997.

Annette was someone who lived life to the absolute fullest. Until she stopped driving at age 90, she lived independently in a 2nd floor condo (with no elevator) in downtown Greenville, SC. She had limitless energy and was heavily involved in the community. Prior to 2025 when she moved to Arizona to be near her daughter, she went to Jazzercise classes several times a week, attended the Unitarian Universalist fellowship, took OLLI (Living in Retirement) classes at Furman University, volunteered, and was a season subscriber to the Greenville Drive – a Boston Red Sox affiliate team.

In 2024, when Annette was 90, she was awarded the Greenville Metropolitan Arts Council Volunteer of the Year. At 90, she was still walking all over downtown and putting up posters for upcoming plays at Warehouse Theatre. Previous volunteer work included Greenville Memorial Hospital and Greenville County Museum of Art. She also ushered at the Unitarian Universalist church, the Peace Center, and Warehouse Theatre.

Acting was Annette’s first love and she acted in many productions around Greenville over the years. In her 80s she switched from acting to stage managing and directing productions. She owned a summer home on Orcas Island (off the coast of Washington) for 20 years, and immersed herself in the community there as well. She was the volunteer coordinator for 7 years for the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival and she participated in theatre and acting camps on Orcas Island.

Annette was preceded in death by her husband Leslie “Bub“ Clark, brothers Robert V. Garver and Walter D. Garver, and her sister Susie (Garver) Klein. She is survived by her children Greg Halter of Greenville SC, Linda (Halter) Balsiger and her husband Randall Balsiger of Green Valley AZ; her brother Jeffrey Garver and wife Maureen Clarke (Delaware); and sisters-in-law Eileen Garver (Illinois) and Shirley Garver (Maryland). She also leaves behind cousins, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends in Greenville SC and Orcas Island WA.