John Glenn Garcia

Services for John Glenn Garcia, 76, of Lufkin, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 16, 2014 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Blackie Cranford and Max Reynolds officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

John was born May 23, 1938 in Camden, Polk County, Texas, to the late Sam Garcia and Kate Viola Gard Garcia. He passed away Saturday, October 11, 2014 in a local hospice facility. He lived in Lufkin most of his life where he graduated from high school in 1957. He served his country in the United States Air Force Reserves. He was a member of Chestnut Drive Baptist Church, where he enjoyed singing bass in the choir.

He began working for Lufkin-Conroe Telephone Exchange, now Consolidated Communications, in 1972 and was an installer-repairman at the time of his retirement in 2000. Prior to going to work for the telephone company, he worked in the lumber and building industry, and was a member of the Lufkin Police Department, where he became a sergeant.

John was well known for his calm personality and easygoing lifestyle. He had many friends and always looked forward to his high school class reunions. He enjoyed watching old movies, especially westerns, and was very knowledgeable of American History and the Civil War. He and Carolyn enjoyed traveling and drove many miles seeing the scenic beauty of our great land. He also traveled many miles with his son Keith exploring and sightseeing around the State of Texas. He enjoyed traditional country music, bluegrass and gospel music. Ray Price was his favorite country singer. He and Carolyn went to many concerts to see and hear country artists. With a great sense of humor, John shared his laughter and his love for others everywhere he went.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth R. and Teresa Garcia; and sister, Patricia Harrison.

He is survived by his loving and faithful wife of almost 53 years, Carolyn; son, John Keith Garcia of Nacogdoches; father-in-law, L. M. Ward of Timpson; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Glynis and Johnny Ritter of Carthage, Judy and Wiley Rice of Center, and David Harrison of Coldspring; special nieces, Kerry Brenkman of Morton, Illinois and Cyndi Mall of Newman, California; a number of other nieces and nephews; and his beloved pets, (Sir) Ernest, Snowflake (Sweet Pea as he called her) and Chica.

Pallbearers will be Robert Adams, Jim Fite, Gerald Forsythe, Raymond Hill, J. B. Goodwin and David Kirkland.

Honorary pallbearers will be member of Lufkin High School Class of 1957, members of Lufkin Police Department 1963-1972, Retired and Active Employees of LCTX-TXU Communications-Consolidated Communications.

Memorial contributions in John’s memory may be made to Chestnut Drive Baptist Church, P. O. Box 2311, Lufkin, TX 75902; Hospice in the Pines, 1504 West Frank Avenue, Lufkin, TX 75904; or your favorite animal shelter.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.