Elena Garcia

Elena Garcia was born August 18, 1919 in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico to Amilcar Bustamante and Maria Francisca Rivera. She received her education in the public school system and graduated from Ponce High School (a very prominent High School).

She met Florencio Garcia which was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and married him on June 21m 1940.

Elena continued her education and graduated with a degree in Education from once Catholic University around year 1955. Elena and Florencio procreated 3 daughters (raquel, Flor, and Myriam) and one son (Florencio, Jr). Her husband was stationed in Hawaii and Elena worked as an elementary school teacher while they were stationed there.

Florencio was involved in the Korean was as a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment (the famous Borinqueneers that in the recent past was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal). Florencio, Elena and children came to Fort Hood in 1959 and immediately got involved with community activities in the City of Killeen. Elena got involved with the Beauty Shop Business, got her license and helped many women in Killeen to obtain their licenses. She eventually operated 3 beauty shops and in 1970 when the Midtown Mall opened she consolidated all three shops into one big one and moved to the mall. She continued to e involved in the City of Killeen and eventually obtained her Real Estate license in the 1960's. Elena and Florencio founded Elena's Real Estate which they operated for many years.

During the years 1974-1975 Elena and a group of friends founded the Sociedad Cultural Hispanoamericana which became incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas. She was President of this Society from 1975-1977, 1980-1982, 1986-1988. Sociedad Cultural Hispanoamericana has become a prominent institution in the City of Killeen and at the present time is still very active in all community activities. In this institution she was also instrumental in bringing a Chapter of LULAC to Killeen.

From the time they arrived in Killeen, Elena and her family became parishioners of Saint Joseph Catholic Church. She was very instrumental with some other friends, in establishing the Saint Joseph Catholic Hispanic Society which was incorporated under laws of the State of Texas which is still very active in Saint Joseph Catholic Church. Elena was also very involved in the Spanish Cursillo Movement and was an active member till recent years when her sight prevented her from being actively involved. She became the sponsor in this movement for many Cursillistas (both females and males). As a parishioner in Saint Joseph Catholic Church she organized an annual trip to the Basilica San Juan of the Lakes in McAllen, Texas. She was always willing to work for the Church and assist anybody that needed help. She wrote a book of Puerto Rican Cuisine which she sold with the proceedings going to help Saint Joseph Catholic Church and Sociedad Cultural Hispanoamericana.

Around 1998 or 1999 she was recognized by the City of Killeen with the Proclamation of Elena Garcia Day. Elnea and Florencio were very good dancers and were always the first to show on the dance floor when music was played in any activity.