Jose De La Cruz Garcia

1938 - 2016

The Mass of the Resurrection for Jose "Joe" Garcia, 77, of Portales will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at St. Helen Catholic Church by Fr. Charles Ugochukwu. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Joey Garcia, Jose Estrada, Jr., Lucas Garcia, Leonardo Holguin, Pablo Urioste, Jr, Johnathan Garcia, Rene Pando II and Enrique Urioste will serve as pallbearers. All of Mr. Garcia's grandchildren, and great-grandchildren along with all of his nieces and nephews will serve as honorary pallbearers. The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM, Tues., April 12, 2016, at St. Helen Catholic Church.
Jose De La Cruz Garcia was born June 28, 1938, in Derramadero, NM to the home of Catalina (Montano) and Jose Guadalupe Garcia and died at his home on Sunday, April 10, 2016.
Joe grew up in the Encino area, and was married to Josefina "Josie" Garcia on April 7, 1956. They remained in Encino at first, and then moved to Santa Fe where they lived for about two years. While there, he worked as a bookkeeper at the State Capitol Building. After that they moved to Albuquerque for about five years where he worked for B. F. Goodrich Tire Co., doing tire repairs and recaps. In 1966, they came to Portales to make their home. For a time, he drove trucks, and then worked as a custodian at E.N.M.U. and the public schools.
In 1975, he began working with other family members at La Hacienda Mexican Food Restaurant. He opened El Rancho Mexican Food Restaurant in 1989. He retired from the restaurant about ten years ago, and since then he and Josie had spent a lot of time traveling. They enjoyed going to Las Vegas and on cruises. They had taken cruises to Jamaica, the Mexican Riviera, and Puerto Rico, among others. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and camping. Mr. Garcia was a very devout Catholic, and enjoyed reading and studying his Bible. He was very involved in the Crucillo Movement, as well the Marriage Enrichment seminars. Only a few days ago, he was encouraging the Deacon to be faithful to keep the Crucillo's active.
He is survived by Josie, his wife of just over 60 years; three sons and daughters-in-law, Ruben and Sara Garcia, Jose Garcia, Jr. and wife, Elvia, and Johnny and Martha Garcia all of Portales, NM; four daughters and two sons-in-law, Jo Ann Estrada, Gloria and Herman Holguin and Eileen Urioste all of Portales and Debroah and Rene Pando of Odessa, TX; 32 grandchildren,30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Kimberly Ann Garcia.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.575-356-4455,wheelermortuary.net