Max Garza

MAX GARZA joined his beloved wife, ESTHER VERA GARZA, in their eternal heavenly home with his family at his bedside. He was born MAXIMILIANO GARZA on October 12, 1925 (Columbus Day) at Las Yescas Ranch, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley.

Max is survived by his two daughters, ISABELLA GARZA KLEB and husband, RON KLEB and INELDA GARZA-HAZLEWOOD and husband, CHARLES L. HAZLEWOOD; his granddaughters, ESTHER HAZLEWOOD VANDERMEULEN and husband JOHN HARMEN VANDERMEULEN, ADRIANA HAZLEWOOD and husband, BRIAN PHIPPS, MARINA LEIGH ALLEN and fiancé BRANDON ODEAN; great granddaughters, RYLEIGH GABRIELLA ALLEN and RUBYE JUNE VANDERMEULEN and great grandsons, DYLAN LEE GOUDEAU and REX GARRISON PHIPPS, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, ALFREDO and GUADALUPE GONZALES GARZA, his brothers, ALFREDO GARZA and ARTURO GARZA and his sisters, DORA LEE HERNANDEZ and GLORIA ALANIZ.

He left school at age 13 to work in an electrical supply house and electrical company in the city of Brownsville. He became an electricians helper at age 14, a journeyman electrician at 16 and at 17 enlisted in the newly formed U. S. Navy Construction Battalion. He was assigned to the 126th USNCB, Headquarters Company as a machine gunner and electrician in the Seabees. He served in the Pacific Theater, where he was wounded in the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. He was transported to Pearl Harbor to be treated for his wounds and returned 6 months later to his battalion in time for the battle of Okinawa. He was present at the Japanese surrender.

After the war, Max returned to his job as an electrician for Hargis Electric where he met his future partners in business, REX SHULLANBERGER and M.C. (DON) DONALDSON and together they formed Delta Electric Construction Company, Inc. in 1960. A few of the hundreds of heavy industrial electrical jobs they completed were runway lighting at Kelly AFB, Randolph AFB, Brooks AFB School of Medicine, Medina AFB, Camp Stanley, Camp Bullis, Lackland AFB including renovation of Wilford Hall electrical systems, the lighting and upgrade of the Tower Life Building, connecting of the electrical system for the Fairmont Hotel when it was moved, USAA corporate lighting, DFW airport lighting, SAT airport runway lighting, the ARADMAC building at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, TXDOT highway, signing and lighting on interstates including the pilot lighting project in 1968 of the IH10/IH35/Loop 410 exchange in San Antonio. Changes in the environmental regulations brought about changes in the type of work Delta Electric performed. They built water plants and wastewater treatment plants in many of the growing communities along the IH 35 corridor, including many of the comfort stations on major Texas highways.

Max’s work took him all over the state of Texas, but his heart and love stayed in San Antonio where his wife, Esther, kept the home running smoothly while she worked as a first grade teacher at Concordia Lutheran Church and School. They joined the church in 1954 where Max served as an usher on Sundays until his late 80’s and a member of the Board of Trustees, helping the growing congregation build their campus and ball fields. He loved and served the Lord with his knowledge and gift of electrical work and donated his time and material to setup the Lutheran High School of San Antonio where his granddaughters attended.

Max did not have many hobbies because his work was his hobby, but he did enjoy hunting and ranching at the ranch in Colorado which he owned in partnership with his closest friends from church. He also enjoyed spending time teaching his daughters to water ski and the family vacations to California, Acapulco, Mexico and Hawaii. He loved to take his wife on cruises to Alaska and the Mediterranean with family and friends.

He was always the gentleman, ALWAYS wore a hat, always kind, compassionate, honest, never missed an opportunity for a teaching or learning experience, always spoke his mind, never held a grudge, and he loved his church, his family and friends dearly. He was a great listener and a great storyteller. He never, ever said “can’t” because he had the ‘CAN DO” spirit of a veteran Seabee. “WE DO THE DIFFICULT IMMEDIATELY, THE IMPOSSIBLE TAKES A LITTLE LONGER.”

His family wishes to thank DR. ALYSSA TRAN and the staff of WellMed Thousand Oaks, the staff of Optum Palliative and Hospice Services, Embrace Hospice, especially, DAVE THOMPSON and ROSARIO. Special thanks to his special caregiver, LOLA ZEPEDA, and to Margie’s Angels MARGIE AND ROSIE BENAVIDES and GUADALUPE DELATORRE.

A visitation will be held on Monday, March 27th from 6-8 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, with a celebration of his life at a service on Tuesday, March 28th at 10:00 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church, 16801 Huebner Road at 1604, burial with military honors at Sunset immediately following. Memorials may be made to Concordia Lutheran Church or to a military charity of your choice.