Gloria Carmela Garcia passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on September 29, 2022 at the age of 95. She was born June 11, 1927 to Leandro and Andrea Villarreal in Laredo, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Teofilo David Garcia, her son Jose Teofilo Garcia, son-in-law Ricardo Mendez, grandson Victor David Arispe, and great-grandchildren: Joe David Garcia, Aidy Jay Garcia.

After attending business college she worked as a medical receptionist for several doctors. Upon her retirement she enrolled in Food Service management courses at Del Mar College and later opened and managed the school cafeteria at Holy Family Catholic School. She was a very active member of her church community where she served as a Eucharistic minister and a lector at Mass. She was a member of the Guadalupanas and Catholic Daughters of America. Gloria volunteered in various other church and school activities. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. The family always looked forward to grandma's luncheons after Sunday mass. Because of her love for plants she later opened a small plant and floral business.

Left behind to share her precious memories are her daughters: Trisy Anne (Ricardo+) Mendez, Gloria Laura ( Robert) Newman, Elisa Elena (Arnold) Arispe, Veronica Iris Garcia and her daughter-in-law Juanita Idalia (Jose Teofilo+) Garcia, 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.

Public visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Guardian Funeral Home Chapel A with the Holy Rosary to be recited at 6:30 p.m. that evening.

Visitation will resume at 9:00 a.m. at Guardian Funeral Home with the procession to depart at 10:30 a.m. for a Funeral mass to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2509 Nogales St.

Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery 9974 IH 37 Access Rd.

Reception to follow at Guardian Hall 5813 Ayers St. (Two blocks from Guardian FH)

Having the distinguished honor to serve as pallbearers are her grandsons Robert David Mendez, Eric Arispe, Abel Arispe, Jose Javier Garcia, Luke Alden Hopkins, William Addison Tompkins, Brandon Oliva and Robert Cody Mendez.
Honorary pallbearers are Ricardo Mendez, Jr., Ricardo Mendez, lll, Stephen Christopher Tompkins, Caleb Castillo, Ryan Guerra, Andrew Garcia, Alec Garcia, Tyler Onken, Isaiah Arispe, Malaki Lopez, and Kobe Flores.