Ralph Garcia

Ralph Garcia, 68 of Temple, passed from this life Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Funeral services will be held at 10 am Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Temple. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Ralph was born in Temple, on November 13, 1955, to Rosa Castillo Reyna and Paulino Garcia. He graduated from Temple High School in 1976. After graduating, he joined the United States Army where he served from 1978 to 1995. During his time with the army, he traveled to Germany, Korea, Colorado, Washington, and Georgia. He worked his way up the ranks and became Company Fire Support Sergeant. He was responsible for training and supervising team members, and the maintenance and upkeep of the equipment before they were sent for deployment. He assisted in the planning and execution of all training to ensure that all the soldiers were combat ready.

After retiring from the Army in 1995, Ralph went to school at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. There he earned his bachelor's degree in teaching. Upon graduating he started his journey to find his forever school. His journey would find him in Tiger Country with Belton Independent School District teaching several electives at the District AEP. Ralph could relate to the students he taught, and he always made sure to help them achieve anything they set their mind to. He loved all his students, and they loved him. He would go on to teach at Belton for 10 years before retiring and receiving the Teacher of the Year award.

Ralph loved watching sports, especially when his nieces and nephews played. He was always there cheering them on. When he wasn't cheering them on, he enjoyed watching his favorite football teams play, Texas A&M and the Dallas Cowboys.

Ralph is proceeded in death by his mother, Rosa Castillo Reyna; stepfather, Pablo Reyna; father, Paulino Garcia; grandmother, Juana Castillo; uncle, Henry Castillo; aunts, Janie Castillo, and Rosa Lucero; brothers, Jesse Garcia, Paul Garcia, David "Duke" Garcia, and Roberto Garcia; and sister, Juana McCoy.

He is survived by his loving niece, Mercedes (Samuel) Trevino; great nieces and nephew, Larisah, Brennon, and Zendaya; brothers, Albert (Mary) Garcia, Johnny (Janie) Garcia, and Paulino Garcia (Newly Jones); sisters, Magdalena (Derrick) Brantley, and Eva Garcia; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A time of visitation will be held from 5-8 pm with a Holy Rosary recited at 7 pm, Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Lakeshore Village Nursing and Rehabilitation, Wellington Nursing and Rehabilitation, Accent Care Hospice, and Joseph Garcia for all the care that they provided to Ralph.