Pilar Garcia

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of P. Rene Garcia, age 67, who passed away on Monday, March 7, 2022, surrounded by his family at his home in Copperas Cove, Texas. A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Funeral Home, 1002 E. Harrison Avenue, Harlingen, Texas 78550, on Friday, March 18, 2022, visitation to begin at 5:00 pm at Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home Chapel of the Holy Spirit. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm Friday evening.

Rene was born on June 18, 1954, in San Benito, Texas, to the late Pilar and Beatrice Garcia. He was raised in the community of La Paloma and graduated from San Benito High School in 1973. While in high school, he met the love of his life Estela Cardenas and they later married on July 20, 1974, in San Benito.  They went on to have three children, Rene, Erica, and JD. He started his career at the San Benito Police Department as a police officer and then went on to work for the Texas Department of Agriculture from 1977 to 1988. He returned to a career in law enforcement in 1988 working for the United States Border Patrol. In 2003, he transitioned to Homeland Security Investigations until his retirement in 2011.  He was very proud to serve more than 25 years protecting his country. Rene continued to serve his country and community as a contracted background investigator for the Office of Personnel Management, a Court Security Officer for the federal courthouse in Waco, Texas. Rene worked for the Copperas Cove Independent School District as a security monitor until August of 2021.

Rene was a “pitmaster” and loved to barbeque.  He found joy in entertaining everyone around him with a captivating story or a joke.  He loved fishing and was fascinated by books, music and history, but most of all he loved his family.  He was a loyal family man always putting them first, even in his final days.

He is survived by his wife, Estela Garcia; children, Rene Garcia and wife, Belinda, Erica Haverlah and husband, Ryan, JD Garcia and wife, Cathy; grandchildren, Daniel Garcia, Andrew Garcia, James Daniel Garcia, Leeya Garcia, Joshua Garcia, Jedidiah Haverlah, Matthias Haverlah, Titus Haverlah; great-grandchild, AJ Garcia; and grandchildren by God's Grace, Madi Ebel, Hannah Houle, and Dylan Houle.

In lieu of flowers, Rene was passionate about the Wounded Warriors Foundation and the United States Border Patrol Foundation. A donation in his name to either foundation would truly honor him.