Robert Garner in the first 45 years of marriage to Dottie, lived in Charleston, WV with his children and grandsons. While a resident, he enjoyed his activity on numerous charitable boards. As a general agent in life insurance, he is a 52 year member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. In Charleston, he chaired the building of their Fine Arts Museum at Sunrise and assembled a formidable collection.

Residing in Sarasota for over 15 years, he continues to enjoy gardening, designing and building public gardens, assembling and exhibiting art exhibits. As a graduate of the University of Illinois, he is a director of their alumni association.