- Date Of Birth: August 29, 1932
- Date Of Death: January 3, 2020
- State: Texas
Virgil “Vester” V. Garcia
August 29, 1932 – January 3, 2020
Virgil V. “Vester” Garcia, died Friday night, after a short illness on January 3, 2020 at Valley Baptist Medical Center.
Virgil attended school at St. Joseph Academy in Port Isabel, Texas. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force at a very young age of 16.Virgil was a proud Korean War Veteran and was honorably discharged as an Engineer with the United States Air Force and had been deployed to the Pacific, specifically the Phillipine Islands and other South East Asian countries.
He was born on August 29, 1932 in Santa Monica, Texas. and was the son of Mike Garcia and Christeen Laird Garcia. He also had one brother, Clark Garcia. Virgil’s father gave him the middle name “Vester,” this was in honor of Virgil’s father’s close friend who was a Texas Ranger. In years prior, Virgil’s father helped stop a bandit ambush and saved the Ranger’s life.
Virgil was a lifelong 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Fraternal Organization, dedicated to promoting and conducting educational, charitable, religious and social welfare works, rendering mutual aid and assistance to sick and needy members and their families. The motto of the Knights of Columbus is: In service to One, in service to all. *The Fourth Degree is the highest degree of the order. Members of this degree are addressed as “Sir Knight”. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism and to encourage active Catholic citizenship. Fewer than 20% of Knights join the Fourth Degree, which is optional.
Virgil was also A Free Mason, He was a 32 degree Master Mason, at the George Washington Lodge, No. 325 in Bristol, Indiana.*A “32 Degree” is someone who is a full Member of the Scottish Rite, a well known-and heavily populated appendant body of Freemasonry; he is equal to other Masons in the world, but is no higher in stature.
Virgil also was a very proud member of The Shriners International, specifically the Saladin Shriners. Other memberships included, Lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, Goshen Chapter. Lifetime member of the United States American Legion, in Blythe, California. Member of POST 0024.
Virgil had a unique and varied work career. His work opportunities took him from Texas to California, Arizona and Indiana.He served as a police officer in Brownsville, Texas. While living in Arizona he worked for several years with the Indian Nation as a Tribal Police Officer and was an honorary member of the Arizona Indian Council Tribal organization.
Virgil lived a very full life and enjoyed the outdoors working as a Ranch Hand. Virgil had a love for animals, especially horses.In between he married the love of his life, Mary Alice Bruno.
He is preceded in death by his father, Mike Garcia; his mother, Christeen Laird Garcia; a brother, Clark Garcia, and his wife, Mary Alice Bruno.
He is survived by one sister-in-Law, Ronnie Garcia from Calallen, Texas, his daughters and one son. Also surviving are numerous cousins especially Albert Garcia, Rolando Garcia and Aaron Garcia, Mary Alice Ortiz, Celestina ‘Tina’ Cavazos, and Amparo ‘Amy’ Navarro, along with several nieces, and nephews too numerous to mention.
Special thanks to Rolando Garcia for having taken on the daily care, well being and health related activities including medical appointments for Virgil. We (the family) want to express our sincere thanks to the Veterans Administration Clinic, especially his Nurses and Doctors. Also thanks to the Valley Baptist Medical Center (VBMC) staff for the excellent care provided to Virgil. Including Ronnie Martinez and staff for providing assistance living care. Special thanks to Murl and Sylvia Kemmerling from Rio Hondo, Texas for their kind loving caregiving to Virgil. We are so very grateful for your compassion and kind heartedness, God Bless you all.
Virgil “Vester” V.
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