Lydia Garcia

Lydia Garcia went home to Jesus on January 6, 2015, at the age of 82. She passed peacefully and in a State of Grace surrounded by her family. She is predeceased by her late husband of 55 years, Theodore, and is survived by her son Christopher and daughter-in-law Stacie, who reside in Ormond Beach, Florida. On June 21, 1958, Lydia and Theodore were married at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in New York City. Born in Benilloba, Spain, November 25, 1932, Lydia's parents Alphonso and Henrietta emigrated from Benilloba, Spain, in 1933, and worked and lived in New York and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, before retiring to Benilloba, Spain. Lydia immigrated as an infant in 1933 with her Mother and her Aunt on the S.S. Roma through Ellis Island, New York. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen at the earliest possible opportunity in 1950. Lydia attended schools in New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania graduating with honors with a degree in business management. She worked as an import export executive secretary for American Can Company, a large can manufacturing company that later grew to become CitiGroup. She started in the secretarial pool and her multi-lingual skills in American English and Castilian Spanish in typing, shorthand, and fluency in technical business terms, promoted Lydia to become the youngest executive secretary for North American operations in the history of the company. She met her husband, Theodore, in 1957 who was a World War II Boeing B-29 Bombardier serving in the Pacific theater of operations and became a physician in Philadelphia. They married in 1958 and relocated to Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, where Lydia managed her husband's new medical practice. In 1960, Lydia gave birth to their son Christopher and her husband entered a residency in ophthalmology and eye surgery at Temple University, where he also began a private practice in suburban King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Lydia raised her son and managed the ophthalmology practice with three offices in the surrounding suburbs. From 1974 through 1978 Lydia served in many capacities supporting their son's school Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College including the Civil Air Patrol, Parent-Teacher Association, and as the Academy hostess for dignitaries including Bob Hope, General Alexander Haig, and the First Lady of California, Mrs. Ronald Regan. Lydia also served as the Republican Committee member in King of Prussia, (Upper Merion Township), Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In 1979, Lydia was the first person of Spanish origin to be elected to public office in Upper Merion Township. Lydia was elected as an Upper Merion Township Supervisor and served consecutive terms serving from 1980 to 1992. She ended her public service career as the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Throughout her public service career she was focused on children's education supporting their rights and privileges. She was a champion of the Upper Merion Library, and ensured that as a founding member of the Montgomery County Head Start, a new chapter was created. Lydia was a sincere and devoted advocate for the rights of unwanted and neglected animals to enjoy a peaceful, healthy, and dignified existence. Lydia and her family personally adopted over a dozen stray and rescued dogs and cats over their lifetime providing a loving and caring home. Her family continues this legacy of support for rescued animals throughout the country. In January 1992, Lydia and her husband retired to Gouldsboro, Maine. In August 2002, they relocated to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to be close to their son and daughter-in-law, where Lydia was very active supporting the Cumberland Township Police Department K-9 and law enforcement activities. Lydia was recognized by the Chief of Police in a public meeting for her service to the department. Lydia, after multiple debilitating strokes, became a resident of the St. Catherine's neighborhood of St. Joseph's Ministries in November of 2013. As a member of the congregation of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, she enjoyed the activities there and served as the St. Catherine's neighborhood Resident Representative. Cremation services were private at the convenience of the family from Porterfield-Scheid Funeral Directors and Cremation Services, Ltd. Interment services will be held on June 21, 2015, at Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Memorial Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of St. Ana and St. Joachim in Benilloba, Spain.

Lydia Garcia

November 25, 1932 - January 6, 2015