Robert “Bob” Eugene Garcia, 91, of Escalon, California passed away peacefully at his home on February 27, 2023 with his loving wife of 69 years, Joan, by his side.
Bob was born on November 26, 1931 to Portuguese immigrants, Frank and Rose Garcia, in Oakland, California. Bob, his parents, and his five siblings relocated to the Central Valley where they started a family dairy business. Bob attended grammar school in Manteca before graduating from Escalon High School in 1950.
After high school, Bob enlisted in the Navy (1950-1954) and served as a Communications Specialist stationed in Alaska, then California. After his military service, Bob was married to Joan (Becerra), his lifelong partner, who he met at a dance at the Escalon Sportsman’s Club. Bob and Joan worked at the family dairy in Patterson, California until it was flooded in 1969. They then relocated to Escalon, California where Bob owned and operated “The Pump House” restaurant and worked as a real estate agent/broker until his retirement. Bob was also actively involved in the Escalon Lions Club and served a term as its president. Bob and Joan were also active members of Escalon’s Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church and participated in many church activities.
Bob will be remembered fondly for his love for the outdoors and his creative ability to tinker and invent. While working on the dairy, he invented an automated calf feeding machine for which he received a patent. He always enjoyed showing off his latest creations to his family and friends. Bob played a weekly game of golf until he was 90 years old, kept close relationships with many family members, and maintained friendships from as far back as grammar school.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, son Stanley (Michelle), and his three brothers Donald, Leo, and Morris. Bob is survived by his wife Joan, his children Steven (Colleen), Stephanie (Bill), and Frank (Sandy), as well as his sisters Lois (Roger) and Patricia. He will be missed deeply by his 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, all of whom looked up to their grandfather.
Bob’s Family will hold a private memorial in the near future.
Donations in Bob’s memory can be made to: Children’s Crisis Center of Stanislaus County, PO Box 1062, Modesto, California 95353. Phone: 209-577-0138; Website: www.childrenscrisiscenter.com.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
March 8, 2023
