Tributes

John Reuben Garcia, 60, born August 23rd, 1963, in Alice, TX died suddenly, and unexpectedly on January 17th, 2024, in his home in San Antonio, TX. Details of the cause of his passing are unknown as of the time of this written celebration of the life of a cherished member of the extensive Garcia family – but the timing of his passing, and the tragic performance of the family’s beloved Dallas Cowboys in yet another early postseason exit in the 2024 NFL playoffs only a few days prior is a leading candidate for the primary cause of death. John would have laughed at that joke, and everyone who knew him can hear exactly what his laugh would have sounded like - and are all hopefully laughing along with him as he looks down on us all, joyfully rejoined with his life partner, Mario Montes, parents Rogerio Garcia and Leona Kurtz Enstrude, brothers Sammy, Danny, and Robert Garcia, and sister Helen Martin who preceded John in death. All of them are laughing right now, but none can be heard louder than John, and only his laugh could ignite laughter in everyone around him. If John weren’t the greatest laugher in the Garcia family (which he was), he was certainly the greatest athlete. Ask any one of his siblings of former All-State wrestlers, football players and track & field stars and they’ll tell you that John, an avid basketball lover and star player, was the best of them all. He was half their size and twice their talent. He was at least two of the men, and all the women combined. Perhaps not, but it didn’t stop everyone from saying it, and John agreeing with it – and then laughing about it. If there is anything to be grateful for with this devastating departure, it’s that John is exactly where he’s been aching to be ever since the sudden passing of his beloved Mario eighteen years ago. The Acts Hope Community will greatly miss their brother of the last thirteen years, the SA Highlands Owls will have one less Hoot-Hooter hooting them on at each sporting event, and the Garcia gatherings are going to be considerably less gleeful without John - in fact, all gatherings that John would normally be present for will be decidedly “not the same.” However, those of us survived by John: Brothers Paul (Patti) Garcia of Garrison, ND, Michael (Terry) Garcia of Alice, TX, Marty Garcia of Corpus Christi, TX, Sisters Debbie (Dan) Charles of Austin, TX, Sandra Garcia of New Albany, IN, Melissa Mitridis and Marcus Martinez of Corpus Christi, TX, Sisters-in-law Teresa Garcia of San Antonio, TX, Rosario (Challo) Garcia of Alice, TX, beloved stepmother Juanita (Janie) Garcia of Corpus Christi, TX, and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces – will rest easier knowing that the happiness he brought to each of us, a happiness he valued more than his own, is now bestowed upon himself as he is reunited in eternity with Mario, and the rest of the resting Garcia family. Services for John are being held this Friday, January 26, 2024, at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South, 1700 SE Military Dr, San Antonio, TX 78214 – with a public viewing at 5:00 p.m., and formal services at 6:00 p.m. The family has requested that in place of any flowers or plants that a donation be made in John’s name to the Huntington’s Disease Foundation.

Tributes

John Reuben Garcia

August 23, 1963 - January 17, 2024