Gary Walden Gavlik

Gary Walden Gavlik passed away peacefully Saturday, April 23, 2022, surrounded by his loving family at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 27, at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery with Rev. Tim Jarrell officiating. Burial will follow. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, April 26, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Gary was born November 18, 1949, in Odessa, Texas, to Walter and Thelma Holcomb Gavlik. Gary received his high school education from Permian High School in Odessa and later received his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from Southwest Texas University in San Marcus, Texas. He served in the United States Air Force from 1971 – 1980. He was stationed in Istanbul, Turkey, and Bergstrom AFB, Texas, where he obtained the rank of sergeant. He was a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service and retired in 2005. He enjoyed Rangers baseball, Cowboys football (who disappointed him every year), and NASCAR. But most of all he enjoyed being with his family and grandkids. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by brother, Randall Gavlik and wife, Rochell; sister, Shirley Hardaway and husband, Bob; wife, Sherry Gavlik; children, Mary Lynne Shafer and husband, Andy, Kristen Greenwald and husband, Scott, Angela Giles and husband, Michael, and Anthony Dixon; thirteen grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society and/or Cogdell Methodist Church, Waco, Texas.