Tributes

Raul F. Garza was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and son. He loved a good practical joke and kept friends and family laughing for hours at a time. He was a great singer and he loved ranching and singing to his favorite Mariachi songs, especially by Javier Solis. He was a hardworking entrepreneur and truly loved ranching. He was comfortable with the mesquite trees, grazing grassy fields and red sunsets over the Sierra Madre Mountain ranges of northern Mexico. Raul grew up in Nueva Rosita and Monclova, Coahuila area of Mexico. At the age of 13, Raul left home to chase the American dream and immigrated to the United States on a Union Pacific railroad train. He was very hard working and ambitious. He worked as a ranch hand in the Del Rio area of Texas. He moved to San Antonio where he learned to be a butcher and was a portion control specialist at a meat packing company. Eventually, Raul raised a family, owned and operated a meat market, a Mexican Restaurant and invested in a small strip center in Southeast San Antonio. He subsequently bought Rolando’s Super Tacos and tripled its sales and turned it into a South San Antonio Mexican Restaurant legacy. In time, he sold Rolando’s. Ranching was in his heart, and he answered the call and decided to return to Coahuila. He secured ranchland and at one time managed over 300 head of cattle. Family was important to Raul. He kept the love for his family always in his heart and mind. At the twilight of his life, Raul returned to his Roman Catholic faith and was in good standing. He prayed daily, said the rosary, and learned his faith. He especially enjoyed attending the Spanish language Mass. He loved God very much, and since he was a young adult man, by memory he would recite his favorite Scripture Psalms to this day, such as Psalm 23, 51 and 91and others. Raul F. Garza was born on November 17, 1938, to Raul Ibarra Garza and Maria Guadalupe Flores in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, Mexico. Raul passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on July 10, 2024, at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, Sarilou Martinez of Monclova, Mexico. He is also survived by his first wife, Olga Estrada Garza of San Antonio, Texas, mother of his 3 children, son Raul Jesus Garza (wife Charnessa) in San Antonio, Texas; son Mark Anthony Garza (wife Kristen) in Lake Wales, Florida; daughter Brenda Bustamante (husband Cleo) in Carrizo Springs, Texas; and grandchildren RJ (his wife Sara), Damian, Matthew, Alexzandria, Brian, Andrew, Joshua, Isabella, and Romeo; great grandchildren Noah, Wyatt and Audrey and many more family members; sisters Guillermina Menchaca, Antonieta Alton, Velia Mata and his brother Ricardo Garza. He was preceded in his death by sister Enriqueta Moreno. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 4-8PM with a Rosary at 6:30PM at Misson Park South 1700 SE Military Dr., San Antonio, Texas 78214 Funeral services will on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 12PM noon with a Holy Mass at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church on 1314 Fair Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78223 The family expresses its gratitude to Mission Park South and to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church for their thoughtful services.

Tributes

Raul F. Garza

November 17, 1938 - July 10, 2024