ASHLAND — As the Ashland community gathered Thursday to celebrate the life of Lt. Garry Lee Alting, it was evident the 25-year veteran officer with the Ashland Police Division will be dearly missed.
While many gathered in-person at Ashland Grace Church for the 11 a.m. funeral service, even more joined the ceremony virtually through a live-streamed video on the Snyder Funeral Home- Lindsey Chapel Facebook page.
Alting, 47, died suddenly June 30 during a medical procedure at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
The well-known law enforcement officer graduated from Loudonville High School in 1991. He then joined the Police Academy, earning an associate’s degree in 1994.
He was born Dec. 11, 1972 in Shelby, Ohio to James & Crystal (Feightner) Alting. He’s survived by both parents; his wife Sherry; children; grandchildren and many other relatives.
Alting’s father was one of many who spoke at the Thursday morning service. He recounted stories of Garry’s childhood. He spoke of his son’s early ability to thrive in any situation, to make people laugh — and to create a siren noise in his throat that seemed to trick him and his wife every time.
“I was given the privilege and honor to be his father,” James Alting said.
He thanked the community for its response over the past week and a half, saying he was “overwhelmed” by the kind comments posted to Facebook and other social media.
Others, including APD Chief David Marcelli, highlighted Garry’s smile and sense of humor.
“He was the perfect ambassador to the community for us at various public events. And you can see that glowing smile in pictures from all of them,” Marcelli said in a letter that was read at the service. “God must have needed a few laughs or a trivia party to have called him up so soon.”
Alting was known to attend — and often help his team win — trivia night at Buffalo Wild Wings. He was a history buff, who sharpened his trivia skills by watching classic movies and documentaries.
Despite the challenges police officers face, Alting — in 25 years — never lost his eagerness or innocence, according to Marcelli. He cared about the community he served.
“Garry was a good cop and an honest and trustworthy man. If I gave Garry $20,000 and asked him to keep it safe for me, I could be confident that it would be there when I asked for it,” Marcelli said.
“Unfortunately the same thing could not be said for ice cream or donuts,” the letter continued, prompting laughs from those in attendance.
Convincing Alting to get ice cream was easy, said his daughter, Alexys McQuillen, when later speaking to the crowd. Anyone could walk into a room, mention wanting ice cream, and sure enough, her father would be happy to accompany them in enjoying a sweet treat.
McQuillen was a teen when her mother married Alting.
“He was like the missing puzzle piece that you just couldn’t find and you were searching and searching for, and when you finally found it, it fits perfectly into the empty space,” she said.
After the ceremony, Alting was buried at the Loudonville Cemetery.
To watch the funeral service or graveside services, see the Snyder Funeral Home- Lindsey Chapel Facebook page.
Read Alting’s obituary at snyderfuneralhomes.com.
