Clotilde P. Garcia

Clotilde P. Garcia, M.D. age 86, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 in a local hospital. Clotilde P. Garcia, M.D. was born on January 9, 1917 in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico and was the fourth of ten children born to Jose G. Garcia and Faustina Perez Garcia. She arrived in Corpus Christi in 1954 to begin her medical internship and residency at Memorial Hospital after receiving her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. During her first year of medical school she was recognized by the faculty as the outstanding medical student for the year 1950. Clotilde graduated from Mercedes High School in 1934. She received her Associates of Arts Degree in 1936 from Edinburg Junior College, her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1938, and her Masters in Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1950. Dr. Cleo Garcia was a member of Del Mar Board of Regents from 1960-1982, member of the Texas Constitutional Revision Convention, member of the 1982 University of Texas Centennial Commission, member of the Texas Historical Society, an Honorary Curator of Hispanic History, Corpus Christi Museum, Founder of the Carmelite Day Nursery Parents and Friends Club, Founder of Spanish American Genealogical Society in 1987, National Health Director for LULAC in 1966 and served on numerous city, county, state and national boards relating to health and civic issues. Dr. Cleo was a scholar and author whose passion for knowledge and history lead her to author ten books and numerous articles on Spanish exploration and colonization of South Texas including the following: Siege of Camargo (1974), Cartas y Documentos del Capitan Pedro Lopez Prieto (1975), Padre Nicolas Balli and Padre Island (1979), Captain Alonso Alvarez de Pineda and the Exploration of the Texas Coast and the Gulf of Mexico (1982), Captain Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon, Colonizer of South Texas (1984), Captain Enrique Villarreal and Rincon del Oso Land Grant (1986), Casa Blanca Land Grant (1990), Index to the Archives of Camargo (1990), Espiritu Santo Land Grant (1990), Los Miradores del Mar (1992) and "An Indian uprising in Camargo 1812", published in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Austin, Texas, October, 1974. She was also a collector of coins, stamps, arrowheads, books, and Mexican artifacts.Dr. Cleo was awarded and achieved many accomplishments such as the being inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1984 for her work in the health profession field. His Holiness Pope John Paul II awarded her the Benemerenti Pontifical Decoration Medal in 1990. The King of Spain, his majesty King Don Juan Carlos I awarded her Spain's Grand Cross Royal American Order of Queen Isabela La Catolica that carries the title of Excelentisima Senora in 1990. In 1983 the Del Mar Board of Regents dedicated the Science and Health Building at Del Mar College in the name of Clotilde P. Garcia, M.D. During her eighty-six years Dr. Cleo touched many lives throughout her life and left this earth a better place than she found it. As a mother and grandmother she selflessly gave her unconditional love and support to her son and grand-children; as a physician she cared for and delivered more than ten thousand children in our community; as a community leader she stood up for those of us who were too weak to stand alone and inspired many to further themselves through education. Dr. Cleo as she was known to all those who loved and respected her is survived by her only son J.A. "Tony" Canales and his wife Yolanda Canales, her grandchildren Barbara Canales Black, Patricia Canales Bell and Hector Canales, her sister Dr. Dalia P. Garcia, her brother Dr. C.P. Garcia and nine great-grandchildren.Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 2003 at Corpus Christi Funeral Home and resume from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2003. A Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2003 at Corpus Christi Cathedral. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2003 at Corpus Christi Cathedral. Interment will follow at Seaside Memorial Park.