Alfonso T. Garcia

Alfonso Garcia, of Tampa, FL, passed away on July 31, 2025, at the age of 102. He was born on April 5, 1923, the youngest of 8 children born to immigrant parents, Joaquin Garcia of Spain and Carmen (Trujillo) Garcia of Cuba. All of his siblings were also born and raised in West Tampa and preceded him in death.

Al served honorably in the United States Army during WWII…from 1941 through the end of the War in 1945. He was stationed in the South Pacific on the Island of Guadalcanal. After returning home in 1946, he married his childhood sweetheart, Aida Gonzalez. Together, they had two daughters.

We were told a story about Aida’s family visiting the Garcias’ home. They were about 7 or 8 years old, and he chased her around the house trying to give her a flower. They were married for 42 years, until she died in 1988. Also preceding him in death was his daughter, Nancy (Garcia) Varga.

His first job was assisting his Father in repairing equipment for the Cuesta Rey Cigar Factory. While he was a “jack-of-all-trades”, he made his living as a carpenter. He is fondly remembered as a hard-working family man, loving and devoted husband, father, and abuelo. A good, quiet, and kind man with a great sense of humor and a love for fried chicken, french fries, and ice cream.

His hobbies were photography and filming, later videotaping; he filmed all of his nieces and nephews’ weddings.

Al is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nadine & Chuck Weiderer; grandchildren, Joseph Varga and Michelle Soleil; great-grandchildren, Cloe Varga, Riley Varga, and Tyler Varga; along with several nieces and nephews.

He will be interred along with his Wife at the Florida National Cemetery, a military cemetery located in Bushnell, Florida.