Jerry Bruce Garza's Obituary
Jerry Garza Sr., 64, of San Antonio, passed away on April 26, 2026. He was born on April 3, 1962, to Richard and Blanche Garza.
Jerry was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother whose life was centered around family and hard work. He shared 44 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Rose Mary Garza, building a life grounded in love, commitment, and resilience.
Jerry enlisted in the United States Navy in 1980, where he rose to the rank of E-6, First Class Petty Officer, and served his country honorably for 12 years. He was proud of his service and carried that sense of duty, discipline, and dedication with him throughout his life.
Following his military service, Jerry worked for several years in civil service with Randolph Maintenance. In the late 2000s, he accepted a Site Manager position at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas, with Boeing. Although he valued his leadership role, Jerry truly loved fixing airplanes. He took every opportunity to engage in conversations about complex aircraft issues, often helping maintainers find solutions when problems seemed unsolvable.
In the early 2010s, an opportunity allowed Jerry to return home to San Antonio, where he became a Field Service Representative at Randolph Air Force Base. This decision would prove deeply meaningful. He was able to reconnect with former coworkers, support them, and share the knowledge he had gained over decades of working on aircraft’s.
Jerry took great pride in mentoring others, helping shape and develop skilled avionics technicians. His role as an FSR also allowed him to teach—something he had a natural gift for. During his 15 years at Randolph, he led a familiarization course that helped dozens of engineers better understand the T-38C aircraft. Engineers from Hill Air Force Base in Utah and from Boeing in St. Louis traveled to San Antonio each year to attend his class.
Jerry’s expertise with the T-38 was widely respected. Fellow Field Service Representatives regularly sought his guidance when faced with especially challenging aircraft issues. His knowledge, patience, and willingness to help left a lasting impact on everyone he worked with.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Rose Mary Garza; his brothers, Bobby Garza, Mark Garza, Lloyd Garza, Dickey Garza, and Carlos Garza; his children, Monica Wade, Jerry Garza Jr., and Brandon Garza; his grandchildren, Jada Garza, Devon McKinney, Delilah Garza, and Violet Garza; and his great-grandchildren, Namir Johnson and Jianni Miller.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Blanche Garza; his brother, Eddie Garza; his sister, Anna Marie Garza and his Grandson Devon McKinney.
Those who knew Jerry will remember him not only as a great brother, but as a man who deeply impacted the lives of so many. Through his mentorship, generosity, and willingness to share his knowledge, he helped shape careers, build confidence, and inspire those around him to be better. His passion for aircraft maintenance could be seen in his work, and his love for people was evident in the way he treated everyone he met. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the family he cherished so deeply. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.
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