Elio Antonio Garcia Gonzalez

Elio Antonio Garcia Gonzalez, age 70, of Riverbank, California passed away on Monday, March 13, 2023. Elio was born in Hacienda El Carrizo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to Antonio and Adelina Garcia on March 12, 1953. He went to school at Escuela Serafin Peña in Hacienda El Carrizo, Nuevo Leon. Later attended school in Coachella and Empire, CA after immigrating with his father, mother, and siblings on March 2, 1966 first arriving in Riverbank, CA “en El Campito de Alvarado.” As a young teenager he would make the journey in his 1969 Avocado Green Plymouth Road Runner from California to Nuevo Leon, Mexico to visit the love of his life who he would later marry. He married Maria Ofelia Garza de Garcia on December 5, 1971 in Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. At the age of 15 he began working "piscando toronja" in Coachella, CA. He would then go on to work as a forklift driver during lemon season in Blythe, CA alternating seasons to Indio, CA and Coachella to pick grapefruits and oranges. His work would eventually bring him to the Central Valley as a field worker and settle in Riverbank, CA. Then went on to work as fork-lift driver at Tri Valley Growers and retiring in 2020 from ConAgra Foods after 55 years in the workforce. Above all he treasured spending time with family and friends. His passion was to sing any chance he got and lighting up a room while doing so. He lived life to the fullest, fearlessly and by his own rules. He was an amazing, irreplaceable, strong, courageous, hardworking, fearless, and selfless husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle, and friend who will be forever deeply missed. His family loved him tremendously, loves him, and will always love him and he will forever live in their hearts. His family feels blessed and proud to forever be able to call him husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and uncle. Elio is survived by his wife Maria Ofelia Garza de Garcia, his children Dianira Soto, Elio Antonio Garcia, and Eleana Garcia, son-in-law Adrian Alcala, grandchildren Elio Antonio Garcia III, Siera Star Soto, California (Nia) Angelique Soto, Carlos Ivan Garcia, Ariana Felicitas Garcia, and Isabella Grace Garcia, brothers Hector Eulalio Garcia, Eliezer Garcia, and Eduardo Garcia, and sister Irma Almendarez. Elio is preceded in death by siblings Elenito Garcia, Emilio Garcia, Juanita Garcia, Eliseo Garcia and parents Antonio and Adelina Garcia. A visitation for Elio will be held Wednesday, March 22, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lakewood Funeral Home, 900 Santa Fe Ave, Hughson, CA 95326. A rosary service will occur Wednesday, March 22, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM. A funeral service will occur Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Saint Frances of Rome, 2827 Topeka St, Riverbank, CA 95367. A committal service will occur Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Lakewood Memorial Park, 900 Santa Fe Ave, Hughson, CA 95326. Following the committal service, A Celebration of Life will be hosted by the family at Saint Frances of Rome Church Hall, 2827 Topeka St, Riverbank, CA 95367. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakewoodHughson.com for the Garcia Gonzalez family.