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Robert “Bobby” Garcia passed away at the age of 79 on March 3, 2023, in Houston, Texas. He was born on March 2, 1944, at the Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, to Elias Garza Garcia and Minerva Maldonado Garcia. Soon after his birth, Elias left for the Pacific Theater, where he Island hopped on his way to Japan. Minerva moved back to his and her family in Santa Maria, Texas, and San Benito, Texas. While in San Benito, Bobby spent his growing-up years and his first three years of school attending Landrum Elementary until 1953, when the family moved to Houston, where he attended 4th grade. In 1955 the Garcia family moved to Bellaire, Texas. He attended Horn Elementary, Pershing Junior High, and Bellaire High School. While at Bellaire, he went to Texas Barber College and received his Texas Barber License at the age of 17. He worked for his Dad at the Triangle Barber Shop, attended classes as a full-time student at Bellaire H. S., and coached football, basketball, and Little League baseball for Bellaire Recreation. At Bellaire H. S., he was very active with the school’s Penny Press, Key Club, and during his senior year was elected “Most Popular, Most Representative, and Senior Mid-Term Class President. After graduation, he attended the University of Houston until 1965. On January 24, 1966, Bobby enlisted in the Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Communication School at Sheppard AFB, and served overseas for 36 consecutive months. He was stationed at RAF Wethersfield, England, with the 2163 Communication Squadron. While at RAF Wethersfield, Bobby taught at Manor Primary School as a Volunteer. In November 1968, Bobby’s orders were redlined and he was transferred to Tan Son Nhut AFB, Saigon, Vietnam, with the 1876 Communication Squadron. While in Vietnam, he was involved in the Mini Tet Offensive. On July 10, 1969, he returned to Travis AFB, California, where he received an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force. He returned to Bellaire and returned to the University of Houston, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with Kindergarten Certification after returning from Brasilia, Brazil, where he completed his student teaching.

Bobby married Pat Middleton and adopted Thomas Robert Garcia. He was hired by Deer Park ISD as a Third Grade Teacher at Deepwater Elementary during the 1971-72 school year. Bobby received his Master of Education in 1975. Within five years, he was appointed Elementary Principal at Lynchburg Elementary during the 1976-77 school year and held the position of Principal and Data Processing Administrator until 1988. In 1986 he married Barbara J. Matthews and Shelly and Kevin came into his life as his children.

Bobby received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Educational Administration in 1987. During the 1988-89 school year, Bobby was appointed Carpenter Elementary Principal, where he remained until 2005. While at Carpenter, Ariel Pena, from Venezuela, came into his life much the same way he came into Maureen and Nina’s life in England. Bobby paid it forward with Ariel, giving back what he had received when he was alone in England. After Ariel’s father died, he became Ariel’s Dad, and Ariel is currently following in his footsteps in education. Bobby held a tenure of 18 years at the original Carpenter Elementary before the new campus was built in 2019. During the 2005-06 school year, Bobby went to Parkwood Elementary for one year, where he assisted in building two wings and remodeling the front office area. His last three years before retirement in 2009 were spent at Deer Park HS as Assistant Principal. Before his retirement in 2009, he helped supervise senior students at their graduation; many graduating students had started their public education as kindergarten students at Carpenter Elementary, where he was their principal.

During his 42-year career as an educator, Bobby touched the lives of thousands of students, parents, and hundreds of colleagues working with him at various campuses and the administration building. Included in the lives Bobby touched are those in England, Vietnam, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Venezuela, Greece, and throughout the United States, which Bobby called “His Extended Family.” It can be said and agreed that Bobby had a magnetic personality that allowed him to befriend anyone he met. Bobby’s big dimples went with his big smile and captivating personality. His greatest legacy is the love, sacrifice, compassion, and guidance he provided to his entire family and those whom he represented in his position as an educator.

After retiring from education, Bobby worked with multiple organizations.
• Disabled American Veterans
• United Service Organization
• Veterans of Foreign War
• American Legion
• Congressional Service Academy Board
• Pasadena Area of Retired School Employees
• DPUMC Finance Committee
• Crossover Program Committee (DPUMC)
• Working with Congressman Brian Babin to help veterans get their benefits.
• Deer Park Community Advisory Council



As Bobby would say, “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours”.