Andrew S. Gatica

Andrew was born in Austin, TX and later in his life he moved and became a resident of Elizabethtown, NC for over 20 years. He was a graduate of A.S. Johnston High School in Austin, TX, started a career with Eagle Signal. He continued his education at Bladen Community College throughout his career at Danaher Controls in Elizabethtown, NC. He became a teacher of Electronics and ESL and would later become the founder of Centro Hispano de Bladen Co, He was an essential advocate for the Hispanic community always willing to offer his time and efforts as a liaison for all who came to him for help. His friends whom he considered his family in North Carolina could not express with words the impact of such a tragic loss to the Hispanic community.

Throughout his life he had a passion for sports and would later share this passion with his children.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Mr. Johnny Gatica Sr. and Mrs. Frances S. Gatica; brother, Johnny S. Gatica, Jr.; brother in law, Albert Rios; nephews, John A. Rios and Joe A. Gatica; and niece, Evelyn M. Rios.

Andrew is survived by his children, John Anthony, Destini Ann and Paul Jake; brothers, Jesse Gatica Sr., Joe S. Gatica (Lucinda), Arthur S. Gatica Sr., Edward Gatica Sr., and Frank Gatica; sisters, Gloria Rios, Mary Gatica, Alice De Leon (Marcus), and Theresa Gatica; and numerous nephews and nieces.

The Gatica Family would like to give a special thanks to Ms. Linda N. Gaskins of Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home of North Carolina, for services held in Elizabethtown which began Andrew's final journey back home to Austin, TX.

The family would also like to give thanks to friends, cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts and uncles for all the support given to the family during our time of sorrow.

God Bless you all.

~Pallbearers ~

Jesse Gatica Sr., Arthur S. Gatica Sr., Edward Gatica Sr.

John A. Gatica, Freddie Gatica Sr., Raymond Samilpa Jr.

~Honorary Pallbearers ~

Joe S. Gatica, Frank Gatica, Paul J. Gatica

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary service beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 13th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, South Congress location. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2014 at Dolores Catholic Church, 1111 Montopolis Drive. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery.