Felipe Garcia

Felipe de Jesus Perez-Garcia, Sr. born on July 22, 1938, passed away peacefully at home with his loved ones at his side, at the age of 78 on April 4, 2017, after a one-year illness.

He was the youngest son of Luis and Amelia (Ramon) Perez-Garcia, growing up in Laredo, Texas, with his ancestors being among the founders of Laredo. He attended Ursuline Academy and St. Joseph’s Academy. He worked at the family businesses, Tropical Fruits and Guadalupe Cold Storage Company.

In 1963, he married Olga Gilda Guerrero, his high school sweetheart. They began their family in Laredo as he began his career in restaurant management. Felipe was the manager of the first Whataburger (on Bartlett Street) in Laredo, Texas and is fondly remembered by many Nixon High School students who made Whataburger their hang-out in the early 1970s. In the mid 70s he relocated with his family to McAllen, Texas to operate El Rio Department Store in Hidalgo, returning to Laredo in 1979 to oversee the opening of Church’s Fried Chicken throughout Mexico for the Longoria Family. He returned to Whataburger of Alice as Supervisor for all Laredo and surrounding areas in 1982, and later became Vice President of Operations in San Antonio in 1986. In 1990, he moved to Mexico City as Director of Operations for Wendy’s of Mexico and later, Tony Roma’s. In the mid 90s, he returned home to Laredo in “semi-retirement”, working for Taco Bell and Sysco Foods. The restaurant business was his livelihood and his passion, a challenge he enjoyed and a unique opportunity to meet many people and teach the vocation he knew so well and truly loved.

As a retiree, he served as a volunteer for three years at St. Augustine School, managing the cafeteria — ensuring healthy meals and making all students feel at home during lunchtime, with his delicious menus and his care and compassion for those he encountered. All had a deep love, admiration, and respect for “Mr. PG,” “Tío,” or “El Señor Felipe,” as he was lovingly referred to by students, faculty and staff. He cared greatly for the communities in which he lived, having begun the famous “Hamburger Booth” at the annual Ursuline (now St. Augustine) Jamaica in 1970, alongside his good friend Pat Alexander, proudly serving as Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scout Troop 307 at Holy Spirit School in San Antonio, as a board member of the South Texas Food Bank in Laredo and serving the Lord regularly at the Christ the King, St. Augustine High School and St. Patrick’s Church Adoration Chapels. He proudly followed the standings of the St. Aug Knight athletic teams and had many Knight friends on both Facebook and Instagram.

He was also a proud Aggie father and grandfather, enjoying the time he spent at Texas A&M, especially for Ring Days, graduations and Parents’ Weekends. Felipe had a tremendous sense of humor, was fun-loving, worked hard, lived according to his faith, and his family was always his top priority.

Felipe was preceded in death by his parents, Luis and Amelia (Ramon) Perez-Garcia, by his siblings, Luis (Maria Evelia) Perez-Garcia and Eva (Oscar) Trevino and by his parents-in-law, Olga (Farias) and John C. Guerrero.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Olga Guerrero Perez-Garcia, his daughters, Olga (Richard) Gentry and Anna (Robert) Cisneros, and his sons, Felipe Perez-Garcia, Jr. and Gonzalo Perez-Garcia; his grandchildren, John Richard (Elizabeth Hopson) Gentry, Patrick and Joseph Gentry, and Angie and Christa Cisneros as well as his only great grand-child, of whom he was so proud and most thrilled, John Richard “Jack” Gentry, Jr. He is also survived by his sister, Ana (Jesus) Zuniga of San Antonio, Texas; cousins Jorge (Dilia) Perez of McAllen, Texas, and Joe (Margot) Perez of San Antonio, Texas; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family extends a special thank you to the doctors who cared for him throughout his illness, Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa, Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa and Dr. Selena Juarez Stuart, as well as for the assistance from Cesar Rodriguez, Efrain Garcia, Felipe Vaquera and Mary Cabello. They also appreciate the excellent care provided by Superior Nursing Care and Altus Hospice Care.

Visitation will be held at the Joe Jackson Heights Chapel, 719 Loring at Cortez, on Friday, April 7th from 5 to 9 pm, with a Rosary at 7 pm to be led by Father Jose Luis Balderas.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Catholic Church by the Very Reverend Anthony Mendoza, Vicar General of the Diocese of Laredo on Saturday, April 8th, at 10:00 am, to be preceded by burial at the family plot at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to St. Augustine High School, 1300 Galveston, Laredo, Texas, 78040.

You may express your condolences to the family online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral and Cremation Services, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, TX 78040, 956.722.0001