Alberto L. Garcia

Our Dear Lord and Savior called Alberto L. Garcia to heaven on November 7, 2022.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, Tío, compadre and friend.  He was born September 30, 1934, in San Benito, Texas to Juan Garcia and Mauricia L. Garcia.  He was proceeded in death by his mother and father.

Left to treasure Albert’s memory is his beautiful wife of sixty-five years, Lidia C. Garcia; his five children, Albert Garcia Jr., Nora Ann “Princesa” Treviño, Rosalinda “Linda” (Joel Wilkinson), John David “J.D.” Garcia (Sandra), and Cynthia Ann “Cindy” (Kirk) Caceres. He is also survived by ten grandchildren who he adored, Adrian, Danny, Karina, Carlos, Michael, Freddy, Raven Marie, Elizabeth, Liana, and Olivia; twelve great-grandchildren; his brother, John Garza; and numerous nieces and nephews. Albert was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Lucy Garcia, and son-in-law, Alfredo Treviño.

Albert enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955 and was stationed in Korea. After completing his military service, he returned home and married the love of his life, Lidia. They celebrated sixty-five years of marriage on September 8, 2022. After having their third child, Albert suffered a work-related accident that would change his life. He was employed by Central Power and Light as a Groundman. On March 22, 1968, right before quitting time, he was working on the ground near the line truck, when the truck’s boom contacted a 12,000-volt primary.  Upon hearing the arc, Albert instinctively jumped. Unfortunately, he backed into the energized truck, collapsed, and rolled under the vehicle. During the sequence of events, the watch on his left arm contacted one of the outriggers. He claimed that “if it had not been for the watch, they might have saved his arm.”  Albert spent the next eight weeks in a hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas. He also stated, “his armed was burned to the bone.”  The doctors amputated three times trying to save as much of his arm as possible. He also suffered burns on his back and both feet. For a while, the doctors thought he might lose his right leg as well. His stay in the hospital was “sheer hell”. Through self-determination, the support of his wife, his faith in God, and the support of fellow employees, he made it through the hospital ordeal. A tougher ordeal awaited him. He could no longer work with the line crew and his friends. After eight weeks, he returned to the construction office in Harlingen as a clerk to start all over in a new job. He transferred to CPL’s San Benito office in 1970 as a clerk and was fully confident that he found a new career. During this ordeal his wife was pregnant of their fourth child later their fifth child.

During the years that followed, Albert was an active member in his church, St. Benedict Catholic Church, a member the Catholic War Veterans, a member of the Kiwanis Club where he served as president from 1977-1978,  a member of the Board of Trustees of Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital from 1984-1991, and an active member of the Golden Kilowatt.

Albert retired from CPL after twenty-five years of dedicated service and did what he always said he would do - travel. He and Lidia enjoyed retirement, traveling to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Italy (where they visited The Vatican), and Portugal (where they visited the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima). They also visited different regions of Europe and Mexico which included a visit to the Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe in Mexico City. They also enjoyed several cruises and pilgrimages. Albert and Lidia also enjoyed their visits to Las Vegas, Nevada and Branson, Missouri.

However, Albert’s greatest joy was being with family. He loved barbequing and just watching a good game on TV, but his favorite was watching war movies. His love for his family was always his top priority. He greatly loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and loved being with all of them.

Albert’s family wishes to express special thanks to Amalia Merida who cared for him for thirteen years when they were unable to. Amalia was a Godsend who took care of him with so much love.

He will be missed by many, but none more than his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

The Garcia family will receive relatives and friends Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, November 11, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Following the Mass, Albert will be laid to rest with full military honors at Mont Meta Memorial Park.

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