Israel V. Garcia Sr., born February 4, 1936, passed away on August 17, 2018 at the age of 82. Israel, affectionately known as “Ike,” was a caring father, grandfather and husband. He and his wife, Mary, recently celebrated 55 years of loving marriage.
At the age of 11, Ike began working full-time to support his mother and brother. Beginning as a shoe-shine boy, he spent the next 71 years in service to his family and country, recently retiring by selling his successful tax and accounting business to spend all his time with Mary and his children. Prior to establishing his business, Ike spent twenty-four years in military service to the United States, first in the Army and then twenty-one years in the United States Air Force. While stationed in San Antonio, he met the love of his life, the two of them sneaking him out of a military hospital on their first date to begin a romance that would last a lifetime. During their military tour in Germany, Ike was charged with inspecting all Air Force classified communication centers in Europe, a great responsibility which required him to travel on a moments’ notice. He retired from the Air Force in 1978 with the rank of Master Sergeant and received the Air Force Commendation Medal. While in the Air Force, Ike had simultaneously pursued his college education, though he had never had the opportunity to attend high school. Shortly after his retirement from the Air Force, Ike received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. He then commenced another twenty years of service to his country as a Revenue Agent and Supervisor for the United States Treasury. Upon retiring from the Treasury, Ike began his own tax and accounting business, representing his clients as an Enrolled Agent. As he worked and cared for his own family, Ike also found time to care for others through his long-time commitment to the Lions Club service organization. Throughout his journey, Mary was by his side.
Despite his own successes, those that knew Ike know that he was most proud of his family. His son, Israel, Jr. followed him into service in the United States Army and, for many years, worked with Ike at the business. Both his daughters, Mary Jo and Cindy, received Doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University and pursued successful careers in the education field. His six grandchildren and his nephews brought him great joy, as well. In addition to his biological family, many of his children’s and grandchildren’s friends affectionately referred to him as “Grandpa Ike”, “Uncle Ike” and even “Dad”. He loved his “adopted family” like his own. In later years, Ike especially enjoyed spending time with Mary and the family at their place on Canyon Lake. When all was quiet, he and Mary would spend hours on the deck enjoying the breeze off the lake and watching the deer.
Kind, honest, and humble, Ike will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He is preceded in death by his mother, Guadalupe Garcia; brother, Valente Garcia; and nephew, Israel Garcia. Ike is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Maria J. Garcia; daughters, Mary Jo Garcia Biggs and Cindy Simpson (Bob); son, Israel Garcia Jr; grandchildren, James Biggs, Mathew Biggs, and their father, Cliff Biggs, Bobby Simpson (fiancé Kim Foster), Christopher Simpson, Jacqueline Simpson, Amanda Garcia; great grandchild, Noah Garcia; nephews, Valente Garcia Jr., Joseph Garcia, Michael Garcia; his sisters- in - law Aurora Pena, Beatrice Mora and Emma Garza (Albert). Visitation will be held at Sunset Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 from 11 am – 12 pm, with a service to be held at 12:00 pm. Interment with military honors will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:30 pm.
