Charles "Carlos" Thomas Garcia

Carlos was born to Richard Garcia and Anna Marie Rives in 1981 in Dallas, Texas. His father’s work with the FBI took Carlos to Florida, Puerto Rico, and finally Maryland where he spent his childhood and adolescence. In 2003, at the age of 22, Carlos enlisted in the United States Army and served with the 47th Combat Support Hospital out of Ft. Lewis, Washington. He was deployed to Iraq from 2005-2006 and was honorably discharged in 2007.

Carlos relocated to Houston, Texas where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Houston-Downtown, and began working with local Veterans. He was first employed by the Mental Health America of Greater Houston as a program coordinator for the Veterans Behavioral Health Initiative. His role was to help Veterans navigate the Veterans court system and to educate both the community at large and Veterans on Military Cultural Competence. He then became the Occupational Achievement and Outreach Coordinator for Adaptive Construction Solutions until July of 2017.

In 2014, Carlos launched a not-for-profit program called Cigar Nights 4 Vets that hosted networking events for Veterans at local bars and restaurants. It was there that he acquired the moniker of “Cigar Man.” Working with Veterans had swiftly become his purpose in life, and he dedicated every ounce of passion and love in his heart to helping his brothers in arms. On top of his responsibilities with Cigar Nights 4 Vets, he also continued as a mentor for the Veteran’s Treatment Court, and was affiliated with Mental Health America, Military Veteran Peer Network, Combined Arms, Lone Star Veteran Association, The Mission Continue, VFW Post 8790, Team RWB Houston, Irreverent Warriors, Team Rubicon, The 400, LLC, Harris County Veterans Treatment Court, MVPN Plainview, Veteran Toastmaster, Expedition Balance, Operation Enduring Warrior, Impact A Hero, Easter Seals of Greater Houston, The Scuttlebutt, Adaptive Construction Solutions, and Operation Forward Progress. Carlos has left behind a legacy of compassion, and through his charitable works countless lives have been touched and bettered. He rallied around his fellow Veterans with shows of support, and his contributions will ripple through all these communities as his impact continues to grow.

He is survived by his father, Richard Garcia; wife, Nan, of Houston, Texas; mother Anna Rives and husband Francis of McGregor, Texas; half-sisters, Cindi Cagle and husband Don of Midlothian, Texas, Kristina Michelle Brooks of Midlothian, Texas; former wife, Karina Garcia of Houston, Texas. In addition to his cousins, aunts, and uncles, he left an extended family of Veterans whose well-being was the driving force in his life.

A visitation will be held in Carlos’ honor on Monday, October 7, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. inside the Chapel of American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038, with a Rosary to take place at 6:30 p.m. The Celebration of Life service will commence on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 10:00 a.m., after which he will be escorted to the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038, where a grateful Nation will bestow him with honors and lay him to rest among the soldiers who inspired him, and those who he in turn inspired.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Scuttlebutt, a Veteran-owned business, or the American Heart Association.

The Scuttlebutt

314 East Main St.

Humble, TX 77338

Harris County

American Heart Association

10900-B Stonelake Blvd.

Suite 320

Austin, TX 78759

1-800-AHA-USA1

For those who will need to travel to attend the services, we offer the Dignity Memorial Bereavement Travel Program. You may call 1-800-224-4177 to access one of our travel specialists who stand ready to assist you and your family. Simply use the passcode 4196.