Leonel Perez Garza, 97, of Robstown, Texas, was called home to be with the Lord on January 27, 2024, in the comfort of his home. Our hearts are saddened by his loss but are comforted knowing he is now with our Lord in Heaven.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Leonel was born January 13, 1927, in Reynosa Tamaulipas, Mexico, to Hipolito and Santos Garza. Leonel married Abelina T. Garza on May 23, 1948, sharing 75 years together.
Leonel was a simple, loving, and hardworking family man who was always ready to help his family in any way. He loved spending time on his ranch, being in the outdoors, caring for his animals, hunting, gardening, and tinkering with tools.
As a boy, Leonel loved to play baseball as a pitcher, always being called to pitch in games. His family moved to a ranch in Driscoll, Texas. There he assisted W.T. McNair in the operation of a 200-acre farm in Robstown as a farm hand planting and harvesting cotton and other crops while helping repair and maintain farm machinery and equipment.
As a young man, Leonel served in the army for 20 months, stationed in Hawaii, and was enlisted in the reserves following his honorable discharge. He was a proud veteran who was very honored to have served his country. Following his military service, he attended courses in auto mechanics in Robstown, Texas, gaining the skills he then used to be a self-employed mechanic in Alice for many years until his retirement from the City of Alice. His retirement years were spent with his family in Robstown, Texas.
Leonel is preceded in death by his parents, Hipolito and Santos Garza; brothers, Manuel Garza (Josephina) and Rodolfo Garza (Rita); and sisters, Ofelia Gutierrez, Emma Garza (Jose), Santos Garcia (Mike), Herminia Perez, and Sylvester Requenez.
He is survived by his wife, Abelina T. Garza; son, Leonel T. Garza Jr. (Pat); son, Amadeo Garza (Mary Dalia); daughter, Dalia Lozano (JC); grandchildren, Wendy Garza Narvaez (Roland), Raymond Garza (Christina), Omar Lozano (Mary), Eric Garza, George Rodriguez, and Matthew Rodriguez; great-grandchildren, Felix Garza, Makayla Garza, Serena Garza, David Jacques, Jasmine Narvaez, Gabby Narvaez, Molly Lozano, Anthony Garza, and Mariana Jacques; along with numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Visitation for Leonel will be held from 5 PM until 9 PM on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, with a Holy Rosary to follow at 6 PM. A Celebration of Life will occur at 10 AM on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Rite of Committal and Interment with Final Military Honors will follow at Robstown Memorial Park, 4607 FM 1889, Robstown, TX 78380.
