Honoring Charles “Carlos” Garcia, who passed away on September 22, 2019

Charles “Carlos” Garcia 

With a heavy heart, HAPCOA reports the passing of Charles “Carlos” Garcia, son of HAPCOA member and retired FBI Special Agent in Charge and Assistant Director of the FBI Los Angeles Division Rich, Garcia and his mother Anna Maria Rives. On September 22, 2019, Charles “Carlos” Garcia died in a motorcycle accident in Waco, Texas. Carlos was 38 years old at the time of his death. Carlos Garcia is a U.S. Army veteran. He served with the 47th Combat Support Hospital out of Ft. Lewis, WA from 2003 – 2007, deploying to Iraq from 2005 – 2006. Upon leaving the military, he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Houston Downtown where he maintained a 3.9 GPA. With his degree, he was the program coordinator for “Veterans Behavioral Health Initiative” with Mental Health America of Greater Houston. He would volunteer and mentors’ veterans in the community and, educates, the community at large, in Military Cultural Competency. The goal is a veteran community which, collaborates to bring resources and opportunities to veterans who need it. Carlos saw a need to bring veterans together and taking from experience in Iraq where at the end of the day, his brothers in arms would sit on top of shipping containers, smoke a cigar and drink a beer as they discussed the day’s events. With that concept, a little over 5 years ago, he formed a non- profit called “Cigar Night for Vets”, something he was planning to take nationally. There are chapters in Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas. From the beginning of this mission and with just 6 attendees on the first meeting, the event attracts over 200 veterns each month. He touched so many with this program and brought attention to the public about PTSD issues facing veterans. 

The HAPCOA National Board sends our deepest condolences and prayers to the entire Garcia Family.

Funeral Home 

American Heritage Funeral Home
10710 Veterans Memorial Dr.
Houston, Texas

Ph# 281-445-0050 

Cemetery 

Houston National Cemetery
10410 Veterans Memorial Dr.
Houston, Texas 

Funeral arrangements are as follows: 

October 7, 2019 – There will be a viewing from 5pm to 8pm 

October 8, 2019 – There will be a service at 10am at the funeral home, followed by a service and Military Honors ceremony at 11:30 am at the cemetery. Upon completion, there will be a social gathering back at the funeral home from 12 noon to 2pm 

Airport – The Cemetery and Funeral Home are approximately 11 miles from Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). William P. Hobby airport (HOU) is located approximately 40 miles from the Cemetery and Funeral Home (Southwest Airlines only flies to Hobby airport) 

Hotel – There is a Hilton Houston North, located 4 miles from the cemetery at 12400 Greenspoint Dr., Houston, Texas Ph# 281-875-2222 (There are other hotels close by) 

Family addresses are as follows:

Cards and expressions of sympathy may be sent to: 

Richard and Nan Garcia
16115 Lockdale Ln.
Cypress, Texas 77429 

Anna Maria Rives
715 Wheatland Dr.
McGregor, Texas 76657 

Additional Information will be available this weekend thorough a website link provided by the funeral home. Also, Carlos was passionate about some of the veteran organizations in Houston and we will post them on the website link. We are requesting for donations to these organizations in lieu of flowers. Thanks