Gareth Alan O'Bannon's Obituary
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Gareth Alan “OB” O’Bannon, 60, of Spotsylvania County passed away on October 30, 2021 with his loving family at his side.
A retired Master Army Aviator and Army Combat Veteran of the both the Gulf War and the Global War on Terrorism, he was awarded the following medals during his 30 years of honorable service: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Army Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device and 20 year silver hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon (3rd award), NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), and the Expert Marksmanship Badge with Pistol Bar.
CW5 Gareth O’Bannon was a Husband, Father, Grandfather, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Eagle Scout whose decades of selfless service to the Nation and Local Community have touched countless lives. He tirelessly volunteered with Boy Scout Troop 196 in Culpeper, VA nearly his entire life, where he earned his Eagle Scout award as a child, eventually becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster and Committee member. CW5 O’Bannon was also a professional photographer and avid Historian, earning his Bachelors of Liberal Studies, with Distinction, in History from Mary Washington College in 1993. During his highly decorated and busy military career, he always found time to balance his family life with his military career and was always a loving and caring Husband and Father. He was an inspiration and Hero to all who knew him, especially his son and daughter. He is loved greatly by his family and will be dearly missed by all who were privileged to meet him.
Gareth is survived by his wife of 39 years, Flora; children, Sean A. O’Bannon (Bailey) of Winchester, and Colleen O’Bannon (Christopher Scudder) of Spotsylvania; brother, Frederick Peterson (Pam) of Marshall, VA, and Timothy O’Bannon (Tabitha) of Jeffersonton; granddaughter, Molly O’Bannon; and stepmother, Barbara O’Bannon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Elmer O’Bannon, Jr.; aunt, Joyce O’Bannon; and grandparents, Elmer O’Bannon, Sr. (Rachel), Lewis Chappelear, and Bertha Hackley.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 12, 2021 at Jeffersonton Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery at 12:00 p.m. with fellowship immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Paralyzed Veterans of America at https://www.pvamidatlantic.org/donate/.
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