Jose Luis Garcia, Jr. (Joe)., 73, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully at

Audie Murphy Hospital in San Antonio, Texas December 26, 2020, after a bravely fought battle with COVID.

Born January 5, 1947 in Santurce, Puerto Rico to Jose Luis Garcia y Rosario and Andrea Adalaida Melendez,

Chaplain Garcia graduated with a BBA from the University of Oklahoma in 1968, and a MA in Divinity in 1977

from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Iowa. He was a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the

USAF’s Advance Chaplains’ School. Chaplain Garcia enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1965, was later

commissioned, and served on active duty as a Marine fighter and helicopter pilot for six years. During his

tenure, he served on a Mediterranean Cruise, Southeast Asia (Vietnam) tour and as flight instructor at

Kingsville, Texas.

Upon ordination as a Lutheran Pastor in December 1977, he was re-commissioned to the U. S. Air Force

Reserves as a Chaplain. In August 1980, he was called to active duty after having served as Senior Pastor of

Oak Cliff Lutheran Church in Dallas, for which he implemented a Senior Citizen’s Center and a Spanish

Ministry Radio Program in the Dallas area. Pastor Joe worked in the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Turkey, and Iraq. He was the Regional Moderator for the Women’s Ministry in Europe. As a Deputy Command Chaplain,

he advised the Commanding General on matters of morale, welfare, religion, and ethics. His final assignment

on active duty was as Command Chaplain of Operation Provide Comfort, a joint command of coalition forces

from 13 nations. Upon retirement from active duty in 1994, Pastor Garcia was called to serve at Zion

Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Antonio. There he founded Z-Place: Zion Family Center, Inc.

In 2000, Pastor Joe was called by the ELCA to serve on the National Church Staff, as Executive Director for

Hispanic-Latino Outreach and Director for Mission Development, covering the U.S., Caribbean, and the border

between Mexico and the U.S.

Pastor Joe was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was a Worship Assistant and choir

member. He and his wife, Leta, started the Rotary Club of Blanco County (Membership Chair). He was a past

President of the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch, as well as past Commander and Chaplain of American

Legion Post 352, and past chaplain for the district. Pastor Joe worked with Casa del Aguila in Limatambo,

Peru as Interim Director and also served on the Board of Directors. He was involved in the Watchdog Program

and PALS program at Blanco Elementary, as well as the CoApt Program (drug awareness) for Blanco schools.

Joe was highly involved in the community of Blanco, including the flood relief effort in 2015, and was an avid

Blanco Panther Basketball fan. He was deeply loved and respected by his family, friends, and community. The

lives of a great number of people were impacted by Pastor Joe who believed and fulfilled the purpose of his

life, which was to glorify God in all that he said and did.

Joe Garcia is survived by his spouse, Leta Meador Schlinke; 5 children Karla Garcia Ross (Steven), Robert

Garcia (Amy), and Jennifer Garcia; Brent Schlinke (Marina) and Clay Schlinke (Jessica); 10 grandchildren; Eli

and Elizabeth Ross, Joel and Evie Garcia, Jake, Erik, Rachel, Tyler, Tristan, Meadow Schlinke, and

brothers Gil(Diana) and Grant Garcia. He was preceded in death by his parents, spouse of 42 years, Evelyn

Spitzenberger and beloved granddaughter, Hannah Ross.

Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, the Rotary Club of Blanco County, or the American Legion Post

352.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 5, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church with ashes to be interred in Shive,

Texas.

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