Barber County Kansas

Dr. James Bud Garten, Th.D.

James & Kathleen  Garten with their grandchildren, Christmas, 2005.

Left to right: Shelby Garten, James Plaster, Brittany Plaster, Scott Jones, Lindsey Jones, Shauna Plaster (front), and seated: James and Kathleen Garten.

Photos courtesy of Bonnie (Garten) Shaffer.
James & Kathleen Garten with their grandchildren, Christmas, 2005
L-R: Shelby Garten, James Plaster, Brittany Plaster, Scott Jones, Lindsey Jones, Shauna Plaster (front),
and seated: James and Kathleen Garten.
Photo courtesy of Bonnie (Garten) Shaffer.


The Amarillo Globe News, March 24, 2006.

Dr. James Garten, Th.D, 62, of Amarillo, died Thursday, March 23, 2006.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Pavillard Baptist Church with the Rev. Dan Holt of Victory Baptist Church in Roswell, N.M., and the Rev. Richard Bunn of Calvary Baptist Church in Pryor, Okla., officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Blackburn-Shaw Memorial Chapel, Fifth Avenue and Pierce Street.

Dr. James Garten was born Sept. 3, 1943, to Guy William and Marian Garten in Medicine Lodge, Kan. He married Kathleen Bunn on Nov. 2, 1953, in Wichita, Kan.

Dr. Garten began seminary at Oklahoma Missionary Baptist Institute & Seminary in Marlow, Okla., in 1958. He received his Doctorate of Bible Theology in 1995 at West Texas Baptist Institute & Seminary in Midland (Texas). Dr. Garten pastored churches in Oklahoma and Paris, Texas, before coming to Amarillo in 1976. He also pastored Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and Liberty Baptist Tabernacle in Amarillo.

He was currently pastor of Pavillard Baptist Church, where he and his wife, Kathleen, have been for more than 18 years. This Sunday he would have finished his 18th year at Pavillard Baptist Church.

Through his years in the ministry, his love for God's people and the church, and his burden for lost souls was evident. His other loves were his grandkids, of whom he was so proud; he also enjoyed cruising in his '55 Chevy.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Garten of Amarillo, a son, Darrel Garten and wife Jamie of Amarillo, two daughters, LeAnn Jones and husband Kevin, and Tina Plaster and husband Gary, all of Amarillo; his mother-in-law, Beulah Bunn of Lawrence, Kan.; two sisters, Bonnie Shaffer of Meade, Kan., and Vera Wood of Citrus Heights, Calif; a brother, Bob Garten of Wichita; and six grandchildren: Lindsey Jones, James Plaster, Shauna Plaster, Scott Jones, Brittany Plaster and Shelby Garten.

The family suggests memorials be to Pavillard Baptist Church, Building Fund, 6500 Pavillard St., Amarillo, TX 79108.

Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.


Guy William Garten's fiddle, in the collection of James Garten.

Photo courtesy of James Garten and  Bonnie (Garten) Shaffer.
Guy William Garten's fiddle on display in the home of his son, James Garten, 2005.
Photo courtesy of James Garten & Bonnie (Garten) Shaffer, 2005.


The Touch of the Master's Hand
Whenever your life is out of tune
And no melody sooths your soul,
Look to the Master whose gentle touch    
Will bless you and make you whole.
Like an old violin with so little worth
A life may be far less than grand,
But may be transformed in a moment you see,
By the touch of the Master's hand.

                        -- Kent Brown.


"What a joy to read a little "history" of Sun City Baptist church! I remember so vividly Sunday School, VBS, etc. as a kid. However, I probably was one that most wanted to "forget". God bless you all." -- Dr. James Garten, 08 Sept 2005, comment in the guestbook for this site.


Also see:

John Henry & Malinda L. (Rogers) Garten, great grandparents of James Garten.

Spice H. "Bud" & Pearl Lealure (McBride) Garten, grandparents of James Garten.

Guy & Marian (Trotter) Garten, parents of James Garten.

Opal May Garten, paternal aunt of James Garten.

Roy John Garten, uncle of James Garten.

Dale Guy Garten, son of Guy William Garten and his first wife, Ida Laura (Gregory) Garten, half-brother of James Garten.

Glenn Leon "Bear" Garten, brother of James Garten.

Jack L. & Bonnie D. (Garten) Shaffer, Bonnie Shaffer is the sister of James Garten.

James Garten's two other siblings are Vera (Garten) Wood and Bobby Lee Garten.


Thanks to Bonnie (Garten) Shaffer for contributing the above images & obituary to this web site!



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