Eloise was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico on December 1, 1923. She departed to meet her Heavenly Father in his celestial court in paradise on May 26, 2025. Eloise was 3 yrs old when her parents, Nicolas Garza and Ysabel Villarreal Garza migrated to America from Mexico with their children. They arrived by train in January 1927 to Saspamco, Texas. They later settled in San Antonio and raised their family of eight children.
Eloise graduated from George W. Brackenridge High School in 1942. Eloise married Dave Winn Benavides, a Staff Sargeant in the United States Air Corp on July 15, 1945. Her pride and joy were her four children, David Arnold, Katherine Eloise, Jerome John, and Alma Elizabeth. They were happily married for 57 years. Throughout those years, the loving couple spent their time building a home, a business, educating their children and giving back to the community. They successfully owned and operated a grocery store in downtown San Antonio for 22 years. During that time, they generously and regularly gave food to hungry families in the neighborhood who were living in poverty. No one was ever turned away empty handed. Many years later, individuals remembered the kindness extended to their family in times of need. The city bought their property in preparation of developing Hemisfair and IH 37. After that, Dave began working in the District Attorney’s Office. Eloise continued working from home raising her children until the youngest started high school.
Eloise loved cooking, baking, crocheting, sewing, embroidering and gardening. She was famous for her chicken and rice dinners, her sock-it-to-me cakes, her fresh made yeast rolls during the holidays, empanadas, and her many varieties of rose bushes.
Around 1972, Eloise began working in the Edgewood I.S.D. managing the library at H.K. Williams Elementary School for seven years. She was promoted to the Central Library Office serving all the schools in the district cataloguing new books and all other assignments wherever she was needed.
Eloise later worked as coordinator for Title 7 Bilingual Parental Involvement Program. She was also involved in the Gifted and Talented Program. The program encouraged parents to volunteer helping in the schools their children attended. The parents’ involvement made a great difference in the children’s school performance. They not only helped the teachers but also encouraged their children to excel and aspire for higher education. Eloise’s encouragement resulted in motivating many parents to continue their education as well. The parents became lifelong friends to Eloise and always showed their appreciation for her.
Eloise’s last position in Edgewood I.S.D. was Pubic Relations Liasion. She represented the district as Vice President for Region XX Education Service Center. She felt privileged and honored to be assigned to search Edgewood’s early history and especially to locate Edgewood’s fallen heroes from the Vietnam and Korean Wars. The task was time consuming and at times discouraging because many of the families had moved out of state. Eloise was very persistent and worked very hard to be able to locate as many as possible to be featured in the magazine, “Edgewood, The Story….the People”. Interviewing the families of the fallen heroes was especially difficult and an unforgettable experience. She had a special place in her heart for the fallen heroes that gave their full measure of devotion and ultimate sacrifice defending their country. After 17 years of service, Eloise retired from Edgewood I.S.D. to be a full-time caregiver for her husband who was in poor health. That became her full-time job which she took very seriously.
Eloise was a proud daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Eloise dedicated her life to her family and community. She was strong in her Christian values. Showing love and kindness to others. Always giving more than she received.
Eloise is preceded in death by her father, Nicolas Garza; mother, Ysabel Villarreal Garza; husband, Dave Winn Benavides; son, David Arnold Benavides; brothers, Alphonso, Joe and Nick Garza; sisters, Consuelo Ramirez, Esther Martinez, and Isabel Garza.
She is survived by daughter, Alma Benavides Garcia (Patrick); daughter, Katherine Ghnassia (Gerard); son, Jerome John Benavides; grandchildren, Tammy Benavides, Tara Jarrell (Michael), David Benavides, Jr. (Denora), Cathy Tome (Justin), Julio David Martinez (Peter), Christopher Martinez, (Kimberley), Brian Martinez, Lisa Prince (Charles), and Gabriella Garcia; great grandchildren, Sean and Shelby Jarrell, Logan Benavides, Jarrod and Dylan Tome, Stayton, Amber and Mikayla Martinez, Isabel Martinez and Priscilla Martinez Purdum (Jonathan) and Callie Prince.
A heartfelt thank you to her dedicated, loving and compassionate caregivers, Irma Tabora Esquivel, Gabriella Gonzales Moreno and Pam Moreno. Many thanks to all the providers at New Life Hospice who showed compassion and love and worked tirelessly for Eloise in her final months.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.
A Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1416 N Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, Texas. Interment to follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
