Retired CCISD teacher dies at 90, remembered as supportive educator, father

During his decades as an educator in Corpus Christi, Homero Garcia emphasized opportunity.

"He was always interested in education," said his son, Homero Garcia Jr. "He liked that aspect of helping kids wanting to do more with their lives. He had a passion for it."

Homero Garcia died Thursday, May 12. He was 90.

Homero Garcia was born on Sept. 22, 1931, in Laredo and grew up in Benavides. He earned a scholarship to study at Texas A&I University (now known as Texas A&M University-Kingsville), but left school to join the U.S. Navy.

Inspired by his older brothers who had served in World War II, Garcia enlisted when the Korean War began. He served aboard the USS LST 1096.

"He wanted to do his part," Homero Garcia Jr. said.

After four years, Homero Garcia was discharged and returned to Texas A&I to finish his education.

He and his wife, Elena, were married in 1956, starting a 66-year marriage. They had two sons, Homero Jr. and Jaime, and three grandchildren.

Homero Garcia found work at the Corpus Christi Independent School District. He began his career as a coach, but once he started having children, he decided to become an elementary school teacher, working at Evans and Houston elementary schools.

"He wanted to spend more time at home," Homero Garcia Jr. said.

He later pursued a master's degree at Texas A&M University and became a vocational instructor, teaching at Miller High School and Carroll High School from the 1970s until his retirement in the 1990s.

In Facebook alumni groups for Miller and Carroll high schools, dozens of former students remembered Homero Garcia as a well-liked and supportive teacher.

A 1989 Caller-Times article featured Homero Garcia, describing him as a teacher who "touts opportunity."

The article quoted several of Homero Garcia's students describing him as motivational.

"Some of the students in this class are very smart, but no one has told them," Homero Garcia told the Caller-Times in 1989. "They need to hear it, so I tell them they are."

His son said he was proud of his home and would spend hours working in the yard and tending to his orange and grapefruit trees. He was also enthusiastic about decorating for Christmas and Halloween, and enjoyed participating in Candy Cane Lane.

"He could spend a whole month doing decorations," Homero Garcia Jr. said.

Homero Garcia loved reading, instilling that love in his family.

"He'd lead by example," Homero Garcia Jr. said. "All of the stuff Dad did, we did because of him."

Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com. You can support local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times. 

More: A founder of Corpus Christi's Candy Cane Lane has died. Here's how he'll be honored.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Retired CCISD teacher dies at 90, remembered as supportive educator