Isabel Garcia

(1926-2024)

Isabel Garcia was born 97 years ago in Los Angeles, CA to Victoria Flores Adame and Teodolo Adame, joining older brothers, Alfred Hernandez and Manuel Hernandez, a family of migrant workers traveling through central California picking fruit and vegetables and living in housing provided by the property owners. Her schooling was minimal, as she was raised in a time when Hispanic girls were not encouraged to attend school.

At age eight, Isabel’s mother died. She and Rudy, her brother, age six, were sent to live with relatives of her father in San Fernando. She remained close to the family all of her life. By this time, Isabel did attend school and learned to speak and read in English. Their granddaughter, Alice, was present and helped to care for Isabel in her last days. When Isabel was 12, her older brother, Manuel (whose philanthropic work in North Visalia was later honored with an elementary school and community center in his name) went to San Fernando and brought them to live with him, his wife Helen and their family, until she married. She lived in Visalia for the rest of her life.

After Isabel married World War II airman, Alfonso Rodriguez, in 1947, they raised three sons, Daniel, Phillip and Stephen. Meanwhile, she worked as a server in the Johnson Hotel, where she overcame her quiet disposition and grew into a confident, entertaining conversationalist. While her sons attended Holy Family Catholic School, Isabel became the first PTA president in the school’s history. When additional funding was needed, Isabel initiated a solution: a potluck fundraiser, a complete success for the school, boosting her confidence as a leader. As her sons involved themselves in middle and high school activities, she and Al supported them in their sports, band and theater activities. At this time, she began working at the Sunkist Packing House, where she worked for 30 years.

Once her sons were grown, she was freer to travel with and for her family. She visited her grandchildren in Santa Barbara and Seattle, traveled to NYC, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Victoria BC and many other destinations. With her second husband, Richard Garcia, she traveled to Puerto Vallarta, and she continued to travel until the last year of her life. In 2003, when Isabel was 77 years old, she began one of the most meaningful jobs of her life. Her cousin, Irene, recruited her to work as a Spanish/ English translator two days a week for the Samaritan Center, a free medical clinic in North Visalia. Here, Isabel met with Spanish-speaking people with little income and no insurance to translate between them and medical personnel. She was beloved by the clinic staff, and this significant role added years to her life. She worked here until she was 92 when COVID closed the clinic. Isabel died March 22, 2024, at her home with family members caring for her. She is survived by her sons, Phil Rodriguez of Visalia and Dan Rodriguez (Gina) of Oregon; four grandchildren, Mary Barbosa (Norman), David Rodriguez (Jenny), Carrie Rodriguez and Alex Oliver and two great granddaughters, Eva and Julia Barbosa. She was preceded in death by her son, Stephen Rodriguez.

Isabel was a force of nature, a self-educated woman, a giver and a role model for all who knew her. She loved life to the very end and never complained. She simply added meaning and smiles to all who came into contact with her. Isabel will be missed.

A Celebration of Life honoring Isabel’s memory will be held Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the Visalia Veterans’ Memorial Building. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to The Samaritan Center, Visalia, CA.