On Instagram, the actress expressed her appreciation for the life and legacy that her father had left behind.
William Garner, Jennifer Garner’s father, “passed peacefully” on Saturday at the age of 85. Jennifer Garner is in profound sadness at the loss of her father.
Alongside a collection of photographs of her family, she posted on Instagram, “We were with him, singing Amazing Grace as he left us (did we carry him across or scare him away— valid question),” she said. “While there is no tragedy in the loss of an 85 year old man who lived a healthy, wonderful life, I know grief is unavoidable, waiting around unexpected corners.”
Jennifer, on the other hand, wrote, “Today is today for gratitude.”
“We are grateful for Dad’s gentle demeanor and quiet strength,” she said in her letter. “Because of the way he teased with a sly smile, and because of the way he invented the role of the all-in, ever-patient girl dad,” His work ethic, leadership, and religion are all things for which we are thankful.
“We extend our gratitude to the medical communities of Charleston Area Medical Center and City of Hope,” she said in conclusion. “Your care extended Dad’s life and gave him time to be in his favorite spots— surrounded by daughters and grandchildren, cheering for his beloved Aggies, captaining a boat, and— most of all—next to his wife of 59 years, our Mom.”
The relationship between William and his wife Patricia included Jennifer, as well as her two sisters, Susannah and Melissa. Charleston, West Virginia, where William worked as a chemical engineer, was the location where they lived and reared their family.
“There is so much to say about my dad— my sisters and I will never be done talking about how wonderful he was, so bear with us— but for today I share these memories with my appreciation for the kind and brilliant man, father, and grandfather he was, as well as the loving legacy he left behind,” Jennifer said in her conclusion.
Throughout the course of her career, the actress’ family has been very supportive, with William even appearing with Jennifer in a commercial for Capital One in the year 2016.
“When I first started working with Capital One, my dad called them up and asked for the ‘Jennifer Garner card,’ which is such a dad thing to do” she joked about in the television commercial. “After he gave his name, the woman at Capital One asked him, ‘Mr. Garner, are you related to Jennifer?’ — kind of joking with him — and my dad was so proud to tell her, ‘As a matter of fact, she’s my middle daughter!'”
William was also given the opportunity to utter the memorable motto of the organization, which is “What’s in your wallet?” — with his daughter joyfully embracing him in the ad that was really emotional.
