Richard Garza

Richard Garza, age 66, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 10:10 a.m., after a courageous journey with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Born in Laredo, Texas, Richard lived a life marked by generosity, integrity, and unwavering love for his family, friends, and community.

Richard had a heart bigger than Texas—always the first to show up and the last to give up on someone in need. Whether it was helping a friend find a job, paying for his brother’s education, or talking a struggling student down from a rooftop, Richard led with compassion and action. He spent over 20 years making a difference in the fields of education and business, driven by a deep commitment to supporting underserved communities and championing the power of higher education.

He loved football, family cookouts, and trips to Vegas. He also enjoyed the movies and bowling with his kids. He never hesitated to give the shirt off his back, and his generosity and presence lit up every room he entered. He saw the gifts and talents in everyone he came across.

Richard is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Gilberto and Yolanda Garza; his brother, Gilbert Garza; and his sister, Yolanda Furnish.

He is survived by his children: Vanessa Ann Miller and her husband, Thomas Miller; Amanda Garza and her husband, David Rendon; and children Richard Issac Garza, Alexander Leeper, Bella Leeper, and James Garza, and his grandchildren, Aley and Oliver, along with his brothers Paul Garza and Jerry Garza, his sister Norma Garza, and his best friends, Elizabeth McCarthy and Oscar De Los Santos—his chosen family through every season of life.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the chapel at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home, 12555 South Kirkwood Road in Stafford.

A celebration of life for Richard will be held Saturday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home, 12555 South Kirkwood Road in Stafford.

The interment will follow, via funeral procession to Forest Park Southwest Cemetery in Richmond.

Flowers may be sent to the funeral home. In honor of Richard’s legacy, the family also encourages donations to the CJD Foundation, whose vital work supports both research and the families impacted by this rare disease.