Carolyn Louise (Sandy Beach) De La Garza

She will be lovingly remembered by her brother, Bill Beach; her children, Robb De La Garza and wife Jennifer, Melissa Vititoe and husband Chad, Amanda De La Garza Benner, and Brandon De La Garza and wife Kaitlin; and her cherished grandchildren, Cameron, Alayna, Kendall, Lola, Lucas, and Dylan—who were the light of her life.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Doris Beach; her husband of 54 years, Chuck De La Garza; her sister, Patricia (Shelly) Salmon; and her daughter, Heather Grace De La Garza.

Born on November 10th, 1949, in Washington, D.C., Carolyn grew up in South Dakota and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1968. She went on to build a distinguished career, serving as a Human Resources Director for the United States Air Force Headquarters, Air Combat Command, Customs, HUD, DOD, and the EPA. She retired in 2012 after 45 years of dedicated service, honored as a decorated Civil Service Employee.

Among her many accomplishments, Carolyn worked at the White House under the Nixon Administration, completed two assignments at the Pentagon, and created and led the Mentorship Program for Human Resource Interns. She mentored dozens of young professionals who she loved dearly, offering wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering support. She often said, “If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”—a truth she lived every day of her career.

Carolyn was a devoted wife, a nurturing mother, and a proud Grammy. Her love for others was boundless, and she treated everyone she met like family. Her faith, her family, and her friendships were the cornerstones of her life. She found joy in reading, planning events, traveling, hosting gatherings, playing games, solving challenging crossword puzzles, and cooking. She thrived in the company of others, sharing stories and forging deep connections.

Her family invites all who knew Carolyn (Sandy)—to share memories and join in celebrating her remarkable life. Her generous heart, radiant spirit, and unwavering love will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

A visitation will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home, located at 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, VA, 23188, on November 22, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life will follow at the same venue, beginning at 1:00 pm.

The committal service is scheduled for 2:30 pm on the same day at Williamsburg Memorial Park Cemetery, located at 130 King William Dr, Williamsburg, VA, 23188.

"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure." -Helen Keller