ARTURO R. GARCIA

Arturo R. Garcia passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at a local hospital at the age of 72.

Mr. Garcia was born in Del Rio, Texas and had been a resident of Laredo for most of his life. He attended San Felipe High School in Del Rio, Texas, where he was an all-District athlete in football, baseball, and track. Mr. Garcia was also a member of Student Council, Spanish Club, and class officer for all 4 years.

Upon graduating from high school in 1965, he then attended the University of Houston on a football scholarship where he was a proud member of the Fighting Cougars football team under Coach Bill Yeoman, and the baseball team. Mr. Garcia received his degree in Medical Technology and Microbiology.

Upon graduation, he went on to serve in the United States Army with the 1st Cavalry Airmobile Division during the Vietnam era. After his tour of duty, he moved to Carrizo Springs and worked in the local hospital; which paved the way to Laredo, TX.

He was then employed by the City of Laredo Health Department working in the laboratory. It was there that he met the love of his life, Margarita Norma Garcia whom he would then marry.  Soon after working with the City of Laredo, he applied and was accepted to the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Department and entered the U.S. Border Patrol Academy. After his graduation, he served as an agent with the Border Patrol proudly serving his community.

Mr. Garcia then decided to continue with his Medical Lab Technician skills, and worked for numerous years with LabCorp up until his retirement.

His passion in life was ranching, the outdoors, hunting, fishing and sports. As a cattle rancher he provided his expertise in the field as a beef project leader for the local 4-H Clubs. He enjoyed life and spread his knowledge of baseball while coaching youngsters and volunteering with the American Little League and the National Little League of Laredo. His big heart, bright smile, optimism and positivity was a pillar to many young men and women in this community that led them to be successful adults that contribute back to the community.

Mr. Garcia will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 36 years of marriage Margarita Norma Garcia.

Parents: Enrique and Maria Del Refugio Garcia.

Father and Mother-in-law: Abel and Margarita Salinas.

Daughter: Margarita Del Refugio Garcia.

He is survived by his five children: Arturo Salvador Garcia, Abel Enrique Garcia, Arturo Garcia Jr., Sylvia Candelaria (Roberto A. Franco) Garcia and Patricia (Emilio) Treviño.

Also surviving him are numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Brother and Sister –in-law: San Juanita (Jesus) Benavides, Abel Jaime Salinas and Maria De Jesus Salinas.

Visitation will be held on Monday, January 6, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a Vigil of the Deceased will be officiated at 7 p.m. in the Hernandez-Lopez and Funeral Chapels, 800 Boston St. at San Bernardo Ave. Funeral services will begin departing the funeral home chapel at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.  Holy Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. at San Vicente De Paul Catholic Church. Committal service and interment will follow in the Veteran's Section of the Laredo City Cemetery.

PALLBEARERS WERE: Jose Esquivel, Sergio Saenz, Alex Gonzalez, Angel Abel Garza, Jose de Jesus Paredes and Roberto A. Franco.

HONORARY PALLBEARERS WERE: Emilio Treviño, Chad Lyne, Eduardo Lozano, Julian Arturo Garcia and Juan Carlos Garcia.