2 brothers in their 80s die on same day

WESTMINSTER, Md., June 12 (UPI) -- Two Maryland brothers, World War II vets who spent much of their lives together, died in the same hospital within 90 minutes of each other, their family said.

Charles Edward "Ed" Garman, 85, died first Monday night, succumbing to pneumonia in the intensive care unit at the Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster, The Baltimore Sun reported Monday. His younger brother, Arthur "Otts" Garman, 83, died soon after of heart failure.

"We didn't tell Dad that Uncle Ed had passed away," said John Garman of Glyndon, Md. "They had always been very close."

The brothers were born and grew up in Reisterstown, a suburb of Baltimore that was a small town in their youth. They returned to Reisterstown after World War II service, joining American Legion Post 116 and becoming volunteer firefighters.

The brothers founded Garman Brothers Lumber Co. in 1946. The company is now based in Crownsville, Md.

Arthur Garman, who also owned a dry cleaning business, continued to live in Reisterstown until his death. Charles moved to Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster late in life.