Obituary of John Morgan Garcia

Garcia, John Morgan, 73, died Friday, October 13, 2000 at St. Petersburg General Hospital. John was born in Tampa, Florida on June 21, 1927. He moved to the Jungle Prade Area of St. Petersburg when he was 6 years old. He often told his children there were wild monkeys in the area. John graduated from St. Pete High School and he later was part of the first male class to attend Florida State University. He was also in the first FSU Circus as part of the Spanish Web Act. He served in the U.S. Navy briefly in WWII and again during the Korean Conflict as an Electronics and Communications Technician. John worked for several local electronics firms including Tipton?s TV & Electronics before opening his own Garcia TV Sales and Service on 46th Avenue North in St. Petersburg in 1960. He sponsored numerous Little League Baseball teams and enjoyed his time off camping with his family throughout North America. John became an Electronics Instructor at PVTI Pinellas Vocational Technical Institute in the mid-seventies, retiring in 1989. John served as Editor for The Printed Board, a newsletter of the Television Service Dealers Association, and as President of the South Pinellas County Retired Educators Association. John and his wife also received the award for ?Volunteers of 1999 ? 2000? from SPCREA. He was a delegate to the state and national conventions of the National Education Association for over 20 years. John was very proud to make it to see Al Gore on his last St. Petersburg visit. Next week, had he lived, John would have served as a delegate to the Florida Silver Haired Legislature in Tallahassee. John was a lifelong model train hobbyist and he found that while he was under treatment for cancer he had time to create an enormous train display encompassing an entire room. He developed his artistic abilities making murals, scenery and model towns. He used his electronics genius to install a state-of-the-art computerized train program. John and Joyce, his wife of 49 years, completed a dream Alaska Cruise in July and August. They have been members of St. Mark?s United Methodist Church since 1957. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, a son, Richard, St. Petersburg; a son, John Jr., Cool, California; a son, Robert, Glen Cove, New York; a daughter, Lisa Gussler, St. Petersburg; a sister, Elsie May, Palm Harbor; and six grandchildren. A celebration of John?s life will be held 3:00p.m., November 18, 2000 at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 6801-38th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710. Food will be provided. In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts may be made to St. Mark?s United Methodist Church, 6801 38th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Bobbitt Chapel.