OUR ONE-AND-ONLY UNCLE RICHARD

Richard was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 28, 1948. He graduated from Corpus Christi Academy. He attended Del Mar College and University of Texas in Austin. He served in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was employed at Universal Studios Orlando. Mr. Garcia was preceded in death by his father, Rafael J. Garcia, his mother, Enriqueta S. Garcia, and his sister, Edna Brenner. He is survived by his two daughters, Melissa Premone of Issaquah, Washington, and Elizabeth Yonker of Orlando, Florida; sisters Gloria Guerra of The Woodlands, Texas and Anna Aguilar of San Antonio, Texas; son-in-law Chuck Premone of Issaquah, Washington; as well as his four grandchildren Kasey Alvarado, Craig Roles, Chase Premone, and Brett Yonker. Mr. Garcia, 59, passed away Friday, February 08, 2008, in Orlando, Florida. The family will receive friends and family February 14, 2008 at: Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy., San Antonio,Texas 78218 (210) 828-2811 from 5:00pm ? 9:00pm. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 15, 2008 at Sunset Funeral Home starting at 12:00noon, with burial to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 1:15pm.

What the obit failed to say was that he could always make anyone laugh. That he took me in during my early tumultuous college years and did a pretty decent job of supporting me when I wasn't really sure anyone would. That he loved playing cards and board games; although he hated to lose -- especially to his much younger nieces! And that he loved being around family most of all -- big, loud, boisterous events -- holidays and weddings, especially -- and was at his best at the BBQ pit or making pan de campo over a campfire. And although we're really gonna miss him around here, I'm sure he's tickled camoflauge to be with Mamo and Papo again, a beer in one hand and shoveling his mother's homemade chicharrones and carne guisada and tamales with the other. He was his mama's boy, afterall, and despite the miles between us, an uncle we all loved and will truly miss very very much.