Edward P. Garcia

A resident of Albuquerque, passed away August 3, 2014 at age 93. Eddie is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Lyla; his children, Michael Garcia, Carolyn Mack, Mary Ellis and husband Bernard; stepdaughters, Sharon Opila and Kathleen Johnson; 4 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Luis and Rafaelita Garcia; his brothers, Louis, Ernest and Bobby. He was a proud veteran of World War II and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He graduated from Santa Fe High School and attended Fort Hays Military College in Ft. Hays, Kansas and UNM in Albuquerque. He was a life-long Democrat, serving as the youngest chair of the Santa Fe County Democratic Party. He worked for many senators including the late Senator Dennis Chavez before joining the federal government. He was retired from the US Department of Labor where he worked for 31 years. He held many supervisory positions including State Director of the Foreign Labor Division, Regional Supervisor in Denver with offices in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming; Regional Supervisor in Dallas, Texas with offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico. He was also Regional Director of Job Corps for the Dallas Region. He also worked with the Department of Labor in the National Office in Washington, D.C. Upon retirement from the Labor Department, Eddie and his wife, Lyla owned and operated several businesses in Albuquerque including El Mirasol Picture Frames and Art Supply retail store in two locations in Albuquerque; E & L Moulding Company, a New Mexico wholesale picture frame supply company, and the Casa Manana Art Gallery in Old Town, Albuquerque. They also owned and operated a Real Estate business with properties in New Mexico and Nevada. They both retired in May 2012. He received the State of New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award in 1978. Services will be Friday, August 8, 2014, 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 9100 Menaul Blvd NE. Interment will be Monday, August 11, 2014, 12:45 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery.