WILBERFORCE -- Henry A. Garcia, 84, a respected retired musician and educator who taught at both Central State and Wilberforce universities, died Tuesday after a lengthy illness.
His son, Leon Garcia of New Jersey, called his father, "a very strong, caring and loving individual. If somebody needed something, he was always available with his music expertise to perform, and he did this free of charge."
Mr. Garcia played Christmas music for several years from the Greene County Courthouse that was piped into loud speakers and heard all across Xenia. "He also played all the graduation exercises at Wilberforce and Central State," Leon Garcia said.
Mr. Garcia, who served in World War II, was a graduate of Wilberforce University and attended Ohio State University, Miami University, Julliard School of Music and the Massachusetts Conservatory of Music. He earned a master's degree in music, literature and organ from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a member of the HAM Radio Association, the American Guild of Organist and the Ohio Theater Organ Association.
"In the 1950s and 1960s, he used to play religiously on Saturday evenings at the skating rink in Montgomery County," Leon Garcia said. "They used to come from all around just to skate to the organ music."
Rita Duncan, secretary to special education with the Xenia Board of Education, remembers Mr. Garcia well.
"He was a special person, very special," Duncan said. "He was just a gem to cooperate with in the community. He will be missed as a pillar and an educator in the community."
Mr. Garcia was preceded in death by his parents [His parents are the late Rev. Howard and Ida Garcia] and brothers Alan and Howard Garcia and former wife S. Louise Algee Garcia.
He is survived by his son, four grandchildren; Dolores Garcia of New York, N.Y.; Leon M. Garcia and Rosalind, both of New Haven, Conn.; Leon A. Garcia Jr. of Irvington, N.J.; a very dear friend, Mary E. Perkins of Wilberforce; a personal friend, Waverly Glover of Springfield; two nieces: Angela and Celeste Garcia from Alexandria, Va.; nephews and other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today with an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Colbert Funeral Home, 574 E. Main St. in Xenia. The family will receive friends until the funeral service begins at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Antoni Sinkfield will officiate. Internment will immediately follow in Massie Creek Cemetery.
Published in the Dayton Daily News, Friday, August 17, 2001.
His son, Leon Garcia of New Jersey, called his father, "a very strong, caring and loving individual. If somebody needed something, he was always available with his music expertise to perform, and he did this free of charge."
Mr. Garcia played Christmas music for several years from the Greene County Courthouse that was piped into loud speakers and heard all across Xenia. "He also played all the graduation exercises at Wilberforce and Central State," Leon Garcia said.
Mr. Garcia, who served in World War II, was a graduate of Wilberforce University and attended Ohio State University, Miami University, Julliard School of Music and the Massachusetts Conservatory of Music. He earned a master's degree in music, literature and organ from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a member of the HAM Radio Association, the American Guild of Organist and the Ohio Theater Organ Association.
"In the 1950s and 1960s, he used to play religiously on Saturday evenings at the skating rink in Montgomery County," Leon Garcia said. "They used to come from all around just to skate to the organ music."
Rita Duncan, secretary to special education with the Xenia Board of Education, remembers Mr. Garcia well.
"He was a special person, very special," Duncan said. "He was just a gem to cooperate with in the community. He will be missed as a pillar and an educator in the community."
Mr. Garcia was preceded in death by his parents [His parents are the late Rev. Howard and Ida Garcia] and brothers Alan and Howard Garcia and former wife S. Louise Algee Garcia.
He is survived by his son, four grandchildren; Dolores Garcia of New York, N.Y.; Leon M. Garcia and Rosalind, both of New Haven, Conn.; Leon A. Garcia Jr. of Irvington, N.J.; a very dear friend, Mary E. Perkins of Wilberforce; a personal friend, Waverly Glover of Springfield; two nieces: Angela and Celeste Garcia from Alexandria, Va.; nephews and other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today with an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Colbert Funeral Home, 574 E. Main St. in Xenia. The family will receive friends until the funeral service begins at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Antoni Sinkfield will officiate. Internment will immediately follow in Massie Creek Cemetery.
Published in the Dayton Daily News, Friday, August 17, 2001.
WILBERFORCE -- Henry A. Garcia, 84, a respected retired musician and educator who taught at both Central State and Wilberforce universities, died Tuesday after a lengthy illness.
His son, Leon Garcia of New Jersey, called his father, "a very strong, caring and loving individual. If somebody needed something, he was always available with his music expertise to perform, and he did this free of charge."
Mr. Garcia played Christmas music for several years from the Greene County Courthouse that was piped into loud speakers and heard all across Xenia. "He also played all the graduation exercises at Wilberforce and Central State," Leon Garcia said.
Mr. Garcia, who served in World War II, was a graduate of Wilberforce University and attended Ohio State University, Miami University, Julliard School of Music and the Massachusetts Conservatory of Music. He earned a master's degree in music, literature and organ from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a member of the HAM Radio Association, the American Guild of Organist and the Ohio Theater Organ Association.
"In the 1950s and 1960s, he used to play religiously on Saturday evenings at the skating rink in Montgomery County," Leon Garcia said. "They used to come from all around just to skate to the organ music."
Rita Duncan, secretary to special education with the Xenia Board of Education, remembers Mr. Garcia well.
"He was a special person, very special," Duncan said. "He was just a gem to cooperate with in the community. He will be missed as a pillar and an educator in the community."
Mr. Garcia was preceded in death by his parents [His parents are the late Rev. Howard and Ida Garcia] and brothers Alan and Howard Garcia and former wife S. Louise Algee Garcia.
He is survived by his son, four grandchildren; Dolores Garcia of New York, N.Y.; Leon M. Garcia and Rosalind, both of New Haven, Conn.; Leon A. Garcia Jr. of Irvington, N.J.; a very dear friend, Mary E. Perkins of Wilberforce; a personal friend, Waverly Glover of Springfield; two nieces: Angela and Celeste Garcia from Alexandria, Va.; nephews and other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today with an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Colbert Funeral Home, 574 E. Main St. in Xenia. The family will receive friends until the funeral service begins at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Antoni Sinkfield will officiate. Internment will immediately follow in Massie Creek Cemetery.
Published in the Dayton Daily News, Friday, August 17, 2001.
His son, Leon Garcia of New Jersey, called his father, "a very strong, caring and loving individual. If somebody needed something, he was always available with his music expertise to perform, and he did this free of charge."
Mr. Garcia played Christmas music for several years from the Greene County Courthouse that was piped into loud speakers and heard all across Xenia. "He also played all the graduation exercises at Wilberforce and Central State," Leon Garcia said.
Mr. Garcia, who served in World War II, was a graduate of Wilberforce University and attended Ohio State University, Miami University, Julliard School of Music and the Massachusetts Conservatory of Music. He earned a master's degree in music, literature and organ from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a member of the HAM Radio Association, the American Guild of Organist and the Ohio Theater Organ Association.
"In the 1950s and 1960s, he used to play religiously on Saturday evenings at the skating rink in Montgomery County," Leon Garcia said. "They used to come from all around just to skate to the organ music."
Rita Duncan, secretary to special education with the Xenia Board of Education, remembers Mr. Garcia well.
"He was a special person, very special," Duncan said. "He was just a gem to cooperate with in the community. He will be missed as a pillar and an educator in the community."
Mr. Garcia was preceded in death by his parents [His parents are the late Rev. Howard and Ida Garcia] and brothers Alan and Howard Garcia and former wife S. Louise Algee Garcia.
He is survived by his son, four grandchildren; Dolores Garcia of New York, N.Y.; Leon M. Garcia and Rosalind, both of New Haven, Conn.; Leon A. Garcia Jr. of Irvington, N.J.; a very dear friend, Mary E. Perkins of Wilberforce; a personal friend, Waverly Glover of Springfield; two nieces: Angela and Celeste Garcia from Alexandria, Va.; nephews and other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today with an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Colbert Funeral Home, 574 E. Main St. in Xenia. The family will receive friends until the funeral service begins at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Antoni Sinkfield will officiate. Internment will immediately follow in Massie Creek Cemetery.
Published in the Dayton Daily News, Friday, August 17, 2001.
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