Paul Christopher Garcia, age 78, of Fresno, California passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Paul was born in Los Angeles, California to Mary Elinor Garcia and Jesus Castanor Garcia. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Danny Garcia and Edward Garcia and also a granddaughter.
Paul is survived by his wife of 34 years, Dolores Garcia, children Deborah Pekelsma, Kevin Garcia, Mary Elinor Gregory, Angeline Fuentez and Phillip Prather, 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Paul retired from Fresno Community Hospital after 30 years of service in the food service department where he took great pride in his work as a cook for patients and visitors alike. In his final weeks, when more recent memory often eluded him, he was frequently brought back to kitchen tasks and recipes of old insisting that they had to be done right and right now.
Paul was a kind and gentle man; a friend to anyone he would meet. In just a week in a new neighborhood he would have gathered information on everyone on the block's stories, careers, children and have been extended invitations to their gatherings.
Paul was an unassuming character. You could not let his glasses and pocket protector packed with pens fool you. Beneath his slight and slightly nerdy appearance raged the heart of a road warrior. He would often recount tales of motorcycle adventures of his youth and other daredevil acts.
Paul was a devoted family man. He loved his children more than anything. He always put their needs above his own. He spent every moment he was able at an event or showing his love with acts of service. He spent many restless nights worrying about each of his children at different stages of their lives. Paul did not focus on how his children entered his life; they were his just the same. He never met a child that wasn’t utterly in love with him by the end of a visit. He was Papa to many and he loved them all in return.
We know that heaven is a better place with Papa in it. May he always be warm, have a lawn to edge, a flower bed to weed, a pocket full of snacks and a good meal that is tasty and a little bit zippy. May he forever be bathed in the love he deserves.
Serving as Pallbearers are Kevin Garcia, Phillip Prather, Andrew Fuentez, Michael Garcia, Nathan Garcia, Mason Mullins and Cid Valenzuela.
