Ofelia Garza

Ofelia Gonzalez Garza, 96, of Kingsville, Texas passed away in Corpus Christi on September 15, 2021. She was born in Kingsville on November 28, 1924 to Arnulfo and Maria Cantu Gonzalez.

She obtained a BS in Education degree at Texas A&I University while raising a family and working full-time as a secretary at Gillett Junior High. She taught for several years and went on to obtain an MS in Guidance and Counseling. She ended her career as a school counselor.

Ofelia was a strong, intelligent, and generous woman. She was active in her community and church throughout her life. She was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of America, the Columbian Ladies, and the Altar Society, Council of Catholic Women, and served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, the Texas Retired Teachers Association, the Alianza de Oro, and numerous other clubs.

She devoted hundreds of hours volunteering as a Nursing Home Ombudsman, at Spohn Kleberg Memorial Hospital, and for the Literacy Council.

Ofelia loved to travel and traveled extensively in the US, Europe, South America, Africa, and Canada.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 68 years of marriage, Renato Garza; one son, Ray Garza; one grandson, Pedro Luis Salinas; and four sisters Bertha Silva, Celia Barrera, Irene Garza, and Teodosa (Toche) Perez. She is survived by: four children, Mary Ella Martinez (Antonio) of Corpus Christi, Texas; Daniel Garza Gonzalez (Janie) of Mathis, Texas; Laura Salinas (Joe) of Concepcion, Texas; and David Garza (Melissa) of Lake City, Florida. She is also survived by six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 on Friday, September 17, 2021 at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary with the Holy rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Chamberlain Cemetery.

Services are in the care of Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd. Kingsville, Texas 78363.