Beatrice V. Thompson

Beatrice Villarreal Garcia Thompson passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, peacefully surrounded by her loving family at home, after an 18-month battle with cancer.  Beatrice was born in San Benito, Texas on January 4, 1938 to Jose S. and Manuela Leal Villarreal. She was a life-long resident of the San Benito – Harlingen area except for temporary moves to Stillwater, Oklahoma, El Paso, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Beatrice, known by most as Bea, began her persistent work ethic as a young girl working at her father’s grocery store.  At the age of 13, she delivered groceries in her red jeep around the San Benito area and to bracero camps. When her father’s store closed her senior year in high school, Bea had more time and joined the debate club, which made finals in Washington, DC.  She was also a member of the National Honor Society. After high school, Bea worked for various government agencies including several branches of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and the Department of Treasury from 1957 until her retirement in January 1993, after 31 years of service. From her first career job working for the cotton classifying office, to Immigration, Wage & Hour, OSHA and finally PPQ, Bea was a leader, trainer and mentor. While working for PPQ, she led the Government Secretaries Pay Reform for all secretaries in the US and gave a speech in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which earned her a standing ovation. A year later, after retirement, she was awarded the 1993 Secretary’s Reinventing Government Federal Award by the Secretary of Agriculture in Washington, DC. After retiring from government service, Bea earned her real estate license and worked for Tom Mason for a short time. She then ventured off on her own real estate dealings, which provided her with daily joy and purpose. Her last venture even had her up on a forklift to help paint, at the age of 80!

It was at her job at IRS where Bea met her love, Leo. Bea and Leo were blessed with 40 years of marriage, travels throughout the world, but most importantly, a blessed family. Her greatest accomplishment and her greatest gift was her love and devotion to her family, loved ones and the richness of her life. She is remembered not only for her achievements in life, but for the tremendous impact she had on everyone she met. Bea was devoted to family, faith, and friendship, with determination and gusto, and a single-minded purpose – to do the very best you can!

Bea is survived by her beloved family:  Leo J. Thompson, her loving, devoted husband of 40 years; her children, Aleida Garcia Agado (Dan), Alisa Garcia Godinich (Douglas), Alejandro Javier “Hondo” Garcia (Becky); daughters, Martha Thompson Wooten (Jeff), Janet Thompson Ragsdale, and Judy Thompson Garcia (Ray). She is also survived by her 15 beloved grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; sister, Christy V. Wyatt (Chuck), and her much loved nephews and nieces.

Sadly, Bea is preceded in death by her loving son, Antonio Daniel Garcia, who passed away one day before.

Beatrice was a devoted Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend.  She wished not for sadness and mourning at this time, but for all to remember her very blessed life, well lived.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (II Timothy 4:7)

Bea’s family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 7 o’clock on Wednesday evening. Family and friends will gather Thursday, December 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Harlingen for a Funeral Mass.