Luis Garza, Sr.

Luis Garza, 71 of Brownsville, TX and longtime resident of San Antonio died February 13, 2014 under the care of Northeast Methodist Hospital in San Antonio after a battle with cancer.
He was born in 1942 to Camilo and Antonia Garza. He was the first of 17 siblings.
Joining the Navy in 1963, he honorably served in Vietnam on a carrier, the USS Lenawee. On February 11, 1961 he met the love of his life, Maria Ofelia Gonzalez and married her on October 31, 1965. Their love flourished for 54 years.
In 1970 he graduated from Texas Southmost College with a degree in Mechanics. He was on the Dean’s List. While attending college he worked as a toll collector at the Brownsville/Matamoros Bridge. After graduating he went on to work at the Don Johnson Volkswagen dealership as a mechanic. In 1972 he began his career with Exxon as a truck driver at the Port of Brownsville. He loved driving his 18-wheeler. He received many safety awards and won several truck driving competitions. After the terminal shut down in 1990, he transferred to San Antonio and retired as a terminal operator on September 11, 2001.
In 1975 Luis and Ofelia were introduced to Jehovah’s Witnesses and soon began a study with Cayetano and Estella Rodriguez. They both dedicated their lives to Jehovah through baptism on June 24, 1978 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the International Convention. Luis lived a very spiritual life. Through life’s tribulations, he stayed faithful and strong and continued to grow spiritually. He encouraged the congregation through his example. After retiring in 2001, he signed up to become a regular pioneer at the Windcrest congregation in San Antonio. He gained so much accurate knowledge from his loving God Jehovah and he took every opportunity to share it with the world. Whether it was on a street corner, the airport, from door to door or by phone, he never turned away a listening ear. He shared his knowledge until the very end.
He was an amazing and loving husband, father, and grandfather. By being the hard worker that he was, he provided the best for his family and gave them a great life. He gained so much respect and was loved by all those who knew him. He loved being surrounded by his family, especially his grandchildren. The brought him so much joy and laughter. He loved sharing Jehovah’s word with them by reading Bible stories, taking them to the Kingdom Hall and sharing in the ministry.
Luis was such a busy body. Aside from being a pioneer, he loved to work on his house and yard. A handyman he was. He also loved to do housework, cut hair, draw, play golf, go to the beach, to the park and watching his San Antonio Spurs.
Luis is preceded in death by his parents Camilo & Antonia Garza; brothers, Carlos& Antonio Garza, and granddaughter, Clarissa Marie Perez. Mr. Garza is survived by his wife Maria Ofelia Garza; children, Luis Garza Jr. (Rita), Deborah Ann Garza (Manuel), Diane Marie Garthe, Sarah Jane Hankins (Jason); grandchildren, Rebekah Nicole, Caleb Austin, Isiah Lewis, John Anthony, Allison Marie, Jasmine Marie & Jacob Ryan; 17 brothers& sisters. Special thanks to all who showed their love & support, especially the Windcrest Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Cayetano and Estella Rodriguez, Maria Elena Rodriguez and the staff of Northeast Methodist Hospital that cared for Luis, mostly to nurse DeParis.
Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld (Hebrews 11:1).