Pedro Hernandez Garcia, Sr.

Pedro “Pete” Hernandez Garcia Sr., 92, of Waco, Texas, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. He was born on February 17, 1934, in Asa, Texas; Pete was the 9th of 12 children. He attended school in Satin, Texas, and when his family moved to Waco, he attended South Waco area schools. He was baptized at St. Francis Catholic Church as a baby and later became an altar boy.

He enlisted in the Texas National Guard in 1955 and served until 1961. He began as PFC P. Garcia with Company K, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, and was later promoted to Sgt. P. Garcia with Company A, 2nd Battle Group, 143rd Infantry, 36th Armored Division. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.

He played baseball for the Bellmead Braves and also enjoyed football. His greatest joy was serving as an umpire for Southern Little League, the Waco Missions, and Mutualista Hall for over 30 years. He worked as a welder at Moseley Iron Works before becoming a forklift driver at Time and PCA, retiring from PCA in 2006.

He was known by many as “Bow Wow,” “Uncle Pete,” “Tio,” and most recently, “General.” But he loved being called “Papi,” “Grandpa,” and “Dad.” He had an awesome sense of humor and loved sharing stories. Often telling us about growing up in the old Sandtown neighborhood; swinging from vines into the Brazos River in his undies, to the 1953 Waco Tornado and assisting in the cleanup. He was full of life, loved being on the move, and enjoyed driving around Waco in his little red Chevy S10 truck. He’d spend his days visiting his nieces and nephews or meeting up with his friends for breakfast at one of his favorite spots, El Charro Cafe or Martha’s. He enjoyed his Big O’s from George’s or an evening tequila shot.

He enjoyed watching sports and was a long-life fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, UT Longhorns, and Baylor Bears. He enjoyed watching old western movies with Audie Murphy and John Wayne, karate movies, and the game show, The Price Is Right. He loved to play pool, plant chilies, and play catch with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed reading, doing puzzles and cross word puzzles, going to yard sales and playing bingo.

Pedro is preceded in death by his wife, Alicia Galvan Garcia, parents, Ysidro and Jesusa (Hernandez) Garcia, brothers: Tomas, Juan, Rito, Jose, Epifanio, Cristobal, Santos; sisters, Victoria DeLeon, Carmen Garcia, Francis Sanchez, and Mary Lozano; son, Carlos Phillip Garcia Sr., daughter, Carolyn M. Garcia and grandsons, Jamie L. Garcia and Pedro H. Garcia III.

He married Alicia Galvan on July 5, 1969, in Mexico City, Mexico. The two first met while she was working as a waitress at El Charro Café and they went on to share 48 years of marriage until her passing in 2018. Together, they raised 2 daughters, Diane and Norma.

He is survived by his daughters, Diane Galvan Saucedo, and husband, Jaime, and Norma I. Montoya, and husband Tony Jr.; granddaughters, Gabriella M. Garcia, of Temple and whom he helped raise as his own, Juliana E. Davis, and husband Trevor, Iliana R. Montoya and partner, Julius Cuevas; grandsons, Nicholas E. Bisson, and Isaac R. Montoya, all of Waco; great grandsons,

Matthew J. Gonzales, of Grand Prairie, and Benjamin R. Warlick of Georgetown, all of whom he helped raise in their own time.

He is also survived by his sons, Pedro H. Garcia Jr., Steve I. Garcia, and wife, Janie, of Waco, 16 grandchildren, including granddaughter, Celeste P. Garcia and grandson, Cidro P. Garcia, whom he shared a special relationship with; and 48 great-grandchildren, all of them whom he loved; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are his grandsons, Nicholas E. Bisson, Cidro Garcia, Isaac R. Montoya, Ricardo Salazar, Steve J. Garcia, and Trevor A. Davis. Honorary pallbearers are Jaime M. Saucedo, Tony Montoya Jr., Matthew J. Gonzales, Benjamin R. Warlick, Adrian J. Garcia, and Julius Cuevas.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Baylor Scott & White 5th Floor nurses and assistant nurses, and Baylor Scott & White Hospice, with a special thank you to Allison, Angie and Kelli for the compassionate care and support they showed our Papi. We are eternally grateful.