Romulo Garcia

Romulo 'Romie' G. Garcia Romulo "Romie" Geneta Garcia, 88, of Hernando, FL, died on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at his daughter's home in Knoxville, TN following a brief illness. Born on December 20, 1937 in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, he was the second born of Flora and Francisco Garcia, who are deceased. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Philippines in 1958. He immigrated with his family to the United States in 1969 and worked most of his career for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture as a veterinarian and supervisory meat and poultry inspector. Dr. Garcia was a devout Catholic and member of St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Hernando, FL, and most recently All Saints Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN. He was an active member of Cursillo in the Philippines and Marriage Encounter in Tennessee. He was a founding member of the Philippine-American Association of East Tennessee. He loved playing tennis, basketball, and volleyball. He was a multiple-time tournament winner in the Oak Ridge Tennis League. He especially loved spending time with his family and grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Dr. Garcia was preceded in death by his first wife (Engracia Torregosa Garcia), sister (Thelma Manauis), and brother (Jose Garcia). Dr. Garcia is survived by his wife, Renita Ylizarde Garcia, of Hernando, FL. He is also survived by his daughters, Imelda G. Margulies and her husband, Aaron, of Knoxville, and Zerlina W. Applegate and her husband, Scott, of Knoxville; and his sons, Roel T. Garcia and his wife, Christine, of Oak Ridge, and Ronald T. Garcia, of Detroit, MI. Also surviving him are his stepsons: Jun Ylizarde and his wife, Natalie, of Oakton, VA; Lorenzo Ylizarde and his wife, Terra, of Durham, NC; and Jason Ylizarde and his wife, Melissa, of Conroe, TX. Dr. Garcia is also survived by two brothers, Manuel Garcia, of Hernando, FL, and Alejo Garcia, of Wake Forest, NC; and many, many loving relatives and friends. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Lauren Danielle (and her husband Samuel), Gabrel, and Preston; Mackenzie; Rachel, Benjamin, Reuben, and Grace; Ethan and Eliza; Elsa Rose, Lucy, and Isla; and Lacey, Dennis, Talan, and Isaac. Dr. Garcia is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Paxton, Cooper, Asher, Nevaeh, and Daniel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Founder's Park, a cause close to their hearts. Contributions can be made at: www.makingstrideswalk.org/knoxvilletn Services will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN on Friday, March 6, 2026. We will begin with a rosary at 10:30AM with visitation to follow in the narthex from 11:00AM-12:00PM and memorial mass with celebrant Fr. Jijesh Paul at 12:00PM. We will follow with the Celebration of Life reception at Holiday Inn Knoxville West - Cedar Bluff at 1:00PM.