Irma Alicia De La Garza

Irma Alicia Martinez De La Garza, 77, passed away unexpectedly on November 10, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. Irma was born on October 30, 1944 in Laredo, Texas. She was the third oldest of nine children. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University.

She married Edward De La Garza and shared 46 years of marriage and had two children together. She was a proud Air Force wife, living in many places from Fort Worth and Austin, Texas to Zaragoza, Spain and Tacoma, Washington. While she took her roles of wife and mother seriously, her favorite role was as Maya to her 5 grandchildren: Edward, Alicia, Alexandra, Isabella, and Matthew

Irma was a retired school teacher of 35 years. She valued education and touched the lives of many students over the years in Laredo, Austin, Zaragoza, and Tacoma. She served the Fort Worth community, teaching in the Fort Worth Independent School District for 27 years at Washington Heights Elementary and Manuel Jara Elementary.

She is preceded in death by her parents Alberto T. Martinez and Margarita Martinez, sister, Paulita Heath and brother Alberto Martinez.

She is survived by her husband, Edward De La Garza; daughter, Angelica Klas and husband, Robert; son, Edward A De La Garza and wife, Crystal; step-daughter Marlena De La Garza-Silva and husband, Jesse; grandchildren, Edward, Alicia, Alexandra, Isabella and Matthew; siblings, Margarita Trevino (Fidencio); Ana Maria Muhlenbruch; Maria Diana Beatty (Earl); Angelica Martinez; brothers, Sergio Martinez, Jorge Martinez (Paulita); Cousins, Janie Sanchez (Daniel); Jesse Frost, and Peggy Frost; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 1, 4-8 p.m. at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 3050 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas. A Mass will be held on December 2, at 12:00 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 6150 Pershing Ave. in Fort Worth. Burial will follow at 2:00 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family is honoring her dedication to education and is accepting donations to purchase books for the Manuel Jara Elementary School library, where she taught for 18 years. Donations are being accepted at https://gofund.me/30ba6c74.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gonzalezfuneralsdallas.com for the De La Garza family.