Garth Walk
1 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27
Muncie City Hall
Two U.S. cities will honor the unsolved death of a former Ball State employee Saturday.
Garth Rector, 48, worked at Ball State University in shipping and receiving at the LaFollette Complex for more than 25 years. He was pronounced dead on March 21, 2008 after being shot by an intruder in his home.
Angie Mock, Rector's younger sister, started the walk in Muncie in October 2008. Another sister, Marty Rector, started a similar walk in San Diego last year.
"I started it for my mom," Mock said. "She was in a lot of pain and felt like she was alone and no one understood her pain, so I just decided to have Garth Walk in memory of those lost to violent crimes."
Garth Rector was born and grew up in Muncie and went to Southside High School.
Outside of Ball State, he was once Muncie Central High School’s assistant wrestling coach and enjoyed going for runs and playing softball.
He is preceded by his wife of 29 years, Angela, and their daughter, April.
Although his occupation entailed behind-the-scenes work, more than 1,100 people were at his funeral, which lasted nine hours, said Mock.
Between 200 and 300 people attended the Garth Walk last year and it has grown each year, Mock said.
Saturday's walk will begin at 1 p.m. at the Muncie City Hall and will feature guest speakers and a prayer, followed by written messages addressed to previous victims of gun crimes attached to balloons.
Muncie’s mayor Dennis Tyler will also speak at the event.
Mock also hosts a meeting on the first Monday of every month for victims of violent gun crimes.
According to gunpolicy.org, in 2011, there were 32,160 deaths and 73,883 injuries due to firearms in the United States.
“I would love to see stricter gun control, but if somebody wants to get their hands on a gun to kill someone, they’re going to do it,” Mock said.
Although Garth Rector's killer has not been identified, Mock is still hopeful for the investigation.
“I believe with every fiber of my being that the Delaware County sheriff’s office is doing everything they can,” she said. “I’m never going to stop until we find out who did this to Garth, because he would not stop for me."
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