THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 23, 1997 TAG: 9702230126
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: GLOUCESTER LENGTH: 35 lines
Aviation Ordnanceman Chief Raymond Richard Garcia, U.S. Navy, (Ret.), 43, passed away on Feb. 14, 1997, at the VA Medical Center, Palliative Care Program,Hampton.
His duty stations included VP-9, Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, VP-50, COMPATWING-10, VP-31, Moffet Field, NAMTRAGRUDET MTU-1022, and HS-10 at NAS North Island where he retired after 22 years of honorable service.
During his Naval career, he was designated Naval Air Crewman and also Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, three Navy Achievement Medals, two Meritorious Unit Citations, five Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, one Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Expert Rifle Medal, Expert Pistol Medal, a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with ``O'' Device, Sea Service Deployment ribbon, and a Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon.
He was a beloved son of Urso Garcia and Maria Teresa Chavez-Wolfe of Los Angeles, Calif. He is survived by his devoted wife of six years, Wendy Francene Garcia of Gloucester, Va.
A private memorial service will be held during the spring in Los Angeles. Afterward, Chief Garcia will be buried at sea with full military honors.
Raymond died after a long and valiant battle with AIDS. Upon his diagnosis, he and Wendy were committed to a positive approach to living with AIDS. Courageously, he became an active participant in the advancement of medical research studies such as HIV Neuro-behavioral Research Center, through UC San Diego.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the ``Raymond R. Garcia Memorial Fund'', P.O. Box 5464, Hampton, Va. 23667-9998. These funds will be disbursed to the organizations of Raymond's last wishes.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY