Ralph Garza

BMC (Ret) Ralph Garza Sr. US Navy, 75 years, resident of La Porte, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Webster, Texas.

Viewing will start at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26th. Vigil Service with Rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. with Deacon Jim Wright of St. Angela Merici Catholic Church at the American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Monday, June 27th, at the American Heritage Funeral Home with Deacon Billy Guerrero officiating. Full Military Burial will follow at Houston National Cemetery adjacent to American Heritage Funeral Home.

Ralph Garza was born in Kenedy, Texas to Cruz Garza and Angelita Robledo on October 24, 1940. He spent his school years in Victoria, Texas. He married Celedina M. Jimenez on May 19, 1964 in Victoria, Texas. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the US Navy from February 2, 1958 thru September 1, 1979. He received 3 Navy Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Antarctic Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service & Campaign Medals to name a few. He proudly served aboard the USS Comstock, USS Washburn; USS Washtenaw County; USS Montrose; USS Huntington; USS Mills; USS Strong; USS Compton, and the USS Camden. He worked as a Chemical Process Operator for Lyondell Basell for 20 years, then retired.

Ralph is preceded in death by his Father Cruz Garza, Mother Angelita Rivera, and his eldest sister Sarah Ramos.

Ralph is survived by his wife Celedina M. Garza, daughter Debra Garza Facundo, son Ralph Garza Jr., daughter Synthia Muñiz and son-in-law Juan Pablo Muñiz. Sisters: Alicia Benavides, Molly Villafranca, and Ernestine Castillo. Grandchildren: Andrea M. Upton and husband Paul, Synthia M. Rowe, Cruz S. Garza, Juan P. Muñiz II, Synthia N. Muñiz, and great-granddaughter Caitlin E. Hutchinson. Extended family includes numerous devoted in-laws, cousins, several generations of nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Pallbearers will be Boatswain’s Mate Cruz S. Garza, Juan Pablo Muñiz II, Kenneth (Keno) Ramos Sr., Ralph Ramos, Wayne Castillo, Jesus Lopez, Juan Lopez, and Dario Sanchez III.

Honorary Pallbearers will be AN Synthia M. Rowe US Navy, LTC (Ret) Raleigh Jimenez US Army, LT Marissa Jimenez US Navy; SGT (Ret) Antioco (Tony) Jimenez USMC, LCDR (Ret) Norberto G. Jimenez US Navy, Eric Jimenez, Robert Escalante, Miguel Castillo, and Dario Sanchez Jr.

The family of BMC (Ret) Ralph Garza Sr. US Navy wishes to extend our sincere thanks to family and friends. We know he will live on in each memory you hold close to your hearts.

We salute you Chief Petty Officer Ralph Garza. May you have “Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw!"