Rafael S. "Tata" Garcia

Rafael S. “Tata” Garcia, 86, of Casa Grande died on July 13, 2013, a day after celebrating his birthday surrounded by his family and friends.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Community Center, with rosary recited at 10. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.

Mr. Garcia was born on July 12, 1927, in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. He immigrated to the United States in 1959 and worked in agriculture in California and Arizona until the mid-1970s. He became a butcher and worked at Brown Meat Packing in Casa Grande in the 1970s until its closure. He later worked at Casa Grande Oil Mill until retiring. He had many friends at Lita Caring Home.

Survivors include his estranged wife, Ma Rosa Pinon de Garcia; five sons, Jose Geraldo Garcia, Rafael I. Garcia, Miguel Garcia Pinon, Cruz Ramon Garcia and Ruben C. Garcia; three daughters, Ma Magdelena Garcia Pinon, Ma Esther Garcia Pinon and Milagros L. Garcia; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Elena N. Hernandez.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.