1923
Jose
2010
Jose M. Garza
November 16, 1923 — October 4, 2010
JOSE M. GARZA, SR.
McALLEN/BROWNSVILLE - Jose M. Garza Sr., 86, died Monday, October 4, 2010, at his residence in McAllen.
Born in Goliad, Texas, on November 16, 1923, Mr. Garza grew up in Edinburg, Texas until 1951. He spent his youth in Edinburg and served in the U.S. Army during World War II serving as a TSgt in the Panama Canal Zone. He was honorably discharged in November 1945 with several decorations. In 1947, he married Maria D. Vela, daughter of Camilo and Francisca Vela. In 1949, he became a member of the Edinburg Police Department and spoke often of his time "walking the beat" in the town square where the Hidalgo County Courthouse now sits. In 1951, after becoming one of the first Hispanics to be accepted into the Texas Department of Public Safety, he moved to Brownsville to open the DPS driver’s license office. His professional career also included stints with the Liquor Control Board at the international bridge in Brownsville, and as a manager of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Import/Export facility at the Brownsville Airport. He retired in 1988 from the Cameron County Housing Authority as a Building Inspector. His retirement was spent in Brownsville until 2009 when he moved to McAllen.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Francisco and Otila Garza; a brother, Francisco Garza Jr.; and two sisters, Aurelia (Camilo) Reyna and Senona Alicia (Albino) Garza.
Mr. Garza is survived by his wife, Maria Vela Garza of McAllen; five children, Joe M. (Grace) Garza Jr., and Aaron (Jennifer) Garza both of McAllen, Cynthia Guerra of Miami, Florida, Laura (Arturo) Martinez of Coppell, Texas, Melissa (Gordon) Vansant of Oceanside, California; seven grandchildren, Catherine (Martin) Mercado, Gisela (Roy) Vento, Giana Garza, Jose Mario Garza, Hannah, Aaron James, and Isabella Vansant; and three sisters, Felipa (Reymundo) Perez, Dominga (George) Valdez and Guadalupe (Jorge) Jasso, all of Edinburg.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary, today, October 6, 2010 at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, October 7, 2010, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 8788 of McAllen. Condolences and well-wishes may be sent to P.O. Box 720077, McAllen, TX 78504.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
McALLEN/BROWNSVILLE - Jose M. Garza Sr., 86, died Monday, October 4, 2010, at his residence in McAllen.
Born in Goliad, Texas, on November 16, 1923, Mr. Garza grew up in Edinburg, Texas until 1951. He spent his youth in Edinburg and served in the U.S. Army during World War II serving as a TSgt in the Panama Canal Zone. He was honorably discharged in November 1945 with several decorations. In 1947, he married Maria D. Vela, daughter of Camilo and Francisca Vela. In 1949, he became a member of the Edinburg Police Department and spoke often of his time "walking the beat" in the town square where the Hidalgo County Courthouse now sits. In 1951, after becoming one of the first Hispanics to be accepted into the Texas Department of Public Safety, he moved to Brownsville to open the DPS driver’s license office. His professional career also included stints with the Liquor Control Board at the international bridge in Brownsville, and as a manager of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Import/Export facility at the Brownsville Airport. He retired in 1988 from the Cameron County Housing Authority as a Building Inspector. His retirement was spent in Brownsville until 2009 when he moved to McAllen.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Francisco and Otila Garza; a brother, Francisco Garza Jr.; and two sisters, Aurelia (Camilo) Reyna and Senona Alicia (Albino) Garza.
Mr. Garza is survived by his wife, Maria Vela Garza of McAllen; five children, Joe M. (Grace) Garza Jr., and Aaron (Jennifer) Garza both of McAllen, Cynthia Guerra of Miami, Florida, Laura (Arturo) Martinez of Coppell, Texas, Melissa (Gordon) Vansant of Oceanside, California; seven grandchildren, Catherine (Martin) Mercado, Gisela (Roy) Vento, Giana Garza, Jose Mario Garza, Hannah, Aaron James, and Isabella Vansant; and three sisters, Felipa (Reymundo) Perez, Dominga (George) Valdez and Guadalupe (Jorge) Jasso, all of Edinburg.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary, today, October 6, 2010 at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton in Edinburg. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, October 7, 2010, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg. Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 8788 of McAllen. Condolences and well-wishes may be sent to P.O. Box 720077, McAllen, TX 78504.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
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