Raymond Garcia

Raymond (Ray) Garcia started his new journey with the Lord on Sunday, September 8, 2019. He was very fortunate to have enjoyed 95 years of a well lived life! He was known around town in Littleton as ""The Funny Guy."" It's the perfect description of his personality and his outlook on life. If you frequented LaMar's Donuts, Nono's Café, Louis' Diner, or attended Saint Frances Cabrini Church, you may have known him. He was never shy and talked with everyone he met.

Ray was born on November 18, 1923 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was an Island Boy of Portuguese descent. His Grandfather migrated to the Islands in the late 1800s from the Azores. The family settled in Kula, Maui (the Upcountry area of Maui), and worked in the sugar cane fields. Ray grew up mainly in Oahu, within walking distance of Waikiki Beach. He also lived in Maui as a child. He served in World War II, was a Pearl Harbor survivor, and frequently told stories of this unique life experience.

During World War II, Ray enlisted in the U.S. Army and became an MP (Military Police). When he expressed his concern about this assignment as he was not a big guy, his superior officer simply said, ""Private, that handgun you're wearing will make up for the difference in your weight!"" After the war, Ray studied to become an Electrician. In 1948 he transferred to Alameda Naval Air Station in California, where he started a career as an Aircraft Instrument Electrician. He loved his craft which satisfied his needs to work with his hands. He also satisfied his need to interact with others, by serving as an elected board member for eight years on the Civilian Employee Welfare Recreation Committee, and he was a proud member of the NAACP where he helped his best friend Carl advocate for civil rights.

Ray met the love of his life, Dorothy (Dot) Santos, at a dance club in Oakland, CA. It was suggested they meet previously through common friends who tried to arrange a blind date. Well of course, neither Ray or Dot wanted any part of that, and refused the offer. So, it was fate that they met on their own, on the dance floor. The dance continued throughout their 59 years of marriage! They were at best when they were together. They purchased their first home in San Lorenzo, CA, where they started to raise their two sons David and Glen. When the new Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system was being built in the early sixties, the city purchased their home to make room for the new railway system, so they moved to Hayward, CA where they purchased their second new home. Ray maintained a very active lifestyle between landscaping their home, various home improvement projects, and coaching his sons' CYO baseball and basketball teams, and Babe Ruth and Little League baseball for years. The family enjoyed many vacations together at Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Lake Tahoe, Pismo Beach, camping, and of course Hawaii.

Ray was a product of ""The Greatest Generation."" If something broke, you fixed it. You only spent money on what you needed. You helped each other with home improvement projects that were bigger than yourself. He spent many weekends working with his brother in-laws building home additions, painting, landscaping, and doing electrical work, and occasionally finding time to play golf with them. You loved and served your Country. You attended Church. You did an honest day's work, and you spent quality time with your family. There were many family BBQ's with the large extended Portuguese family in the Bay Area (back then everyone lived right around the corner from each other).

After 30 years of working at Alameda Naval Air Station, Ray was lucky to qualify for early retirement from Civil Service at the age of 55, although he didn't stop working. This provided him with the opportunity to explore other interests. Over the next 20+ years he enjoyed various part time assignments: gardener/landscaper, security guard, chauffeur, apartment management, construction project management, grocery store clerk, store greeter, and church usher. He worked with instruments as a career, but it was the jobs where he interacted with people that satisfied his true passion.

In 1994, Ray and Dot fully retired, and moved to Littleton, CO to be closer to family and watch Lucas and Bryce, their two Grandson's, grow up. They purchased their retirement home, a condo in the Ken Caryl Ranch area. They enjoyed the retirement life. They played bingo, met new friends, went to the movies, established their list of favorite restaurants, attended church, enjoyed family dinners together, and were proud to see both Grandsons earn their black belts in Taekwondo, and watch them participate in the Junior Olympics, and teach Taekwondo. Lucas and Bryce called their Grandpa ""G-Man"" (Grandpa, Gentleman, Government, and Great Man).

His favorite song was ""You Are My Sunshine."" He used every opportunity to sing it to Dot, and anyone else on any occasion. He played the harmonica too. Ray loved God, his country, his family and friends, people he met along the way, and cookies and donuts. He was a great provider to his family. He was generous with his time and money. He had a zest for life and a sparkle in his eye. He frequently demonstrated this by jumping and clicking his heels together. We will miss him dearly!

Ray is survived by his two sons, David DeGraca (and wife Kirsten) of Aurora, Colorado; and Glen Garcia (and wife Susan) of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; his brother in-law and life long friend Ray Peters of San Leandro, CA; and the many cousins, nieces and nephews in California, Hawaii, and beyond.

We would like to thank Denver Hospice, Brookdale Assisted Living (Lakewood), and Dr. Abruzzo and staff at Kaiser Permanente, for providing excellent care and comfort. To everyone at Saint Frances Cabrini Church for your friendship, compassion and contributing to his spiritual journey. To the numerous friends who visited, called him, and stayed in touch. We also extend a very heartfelt thank you to his close friends: Mark Turner, Michael DeLucci, George Eckert, Jerry Hayes, Anna Dias, everyone from The Silver Strands, ""The Golden Girls,"" and Knights of Columbus. You were always there for him and helped him immensely-he loved you!

Services celebrating Ray's life will be held on Friday, October 4^th, 10:30am, at Saint Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, located at 6673 W Chatfield Ave., Littleton, CO.

With sincere gratitude,

Ray's Family