Dr. Theodore Angel Garcia, M.D.

Theodore A. Garcia, M.D. went to visit Jesus on June 21, 2013, at the age of 91. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lydia, son Christopher and daughter-in-law Stacie, all of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Ormond Beach, Florida. In 1958, Theodore and Lydia were married at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in New York City. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1921, Theodore's parents Vincent and Julia emigrated from Benilloba, Spain, in 1920, and lived in Philadelphia. Theodore attended Wharton and Meredith Elementary, Bartlett Junior High School, and after skipping several grades graduated cum laude from the all-male Central High School June 1937 at the age of 15 with an academic degree of Bachelor of Arts. Theodore then graduated from Strayer's Business College in 1938, then the Philadelphia Barber's School working in his father's barber shop, and then served as a maritime secretary to the pier agent of the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company at Pier 78, Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, until Pearl Harbor was attacked on Sunday, December 7, 1941. Theodore enlisted the next day in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a Flying Cadet, and graduated as 2nd Lieutenant on April 17, 1943. Lt. Garcia served as a Bombardier Instructor in Victorville, California and was later selected to serve as a Boeing B-29 Group Bombardier at Mountain Home Army Base, Boise, Idaho, serving in the Pacific theater of operations. At the end of the war, Theodore studied to become a physician attending Villanova College graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Pre-Medical Studies. Awaiting acceptance to medical school, he remained at Villanova College as a Spanish instructor and was accepted to Jefferson Medical College graduating in 1954 with a degree of Doctor of Medicine, and resigned from the U.S. Army Medical Reserve as a Captain. He served his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital, Philadelphia, 1954-1955. He served as a staff physician in the obstetrics division at Philadelphia General Hospital, as a public school physician, and the medical director for Casa del Carmen. In 1960, Dr. Garcia entered a residency in ophthalmology and eye surgery at Temple University, returning to the public school system as an eye specialist for elementary school children. In 1964 he also began a private practice in suburban King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. From 1974 through 1978 Dr. and Mrs. Garcia 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 Academy hosts for dignitaries including Bob Hope, General Alexander Haig, and the First Lady of California Mrs. Ronald Regan. Dr. and Mrs. Garcia became involved as Republican Committee members in King of Prussia, (Upper Merion Township), Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In 1979, at the urging of his wife, Dr. Garcia was the first person of Spanish origin to be elected to public office in Pennsylvania, all other Hispanics having been previously appointed. Dr. Garcia was elected as Coroner of Montgomery County for three consecutive terms serving from 1980 to 1992 and was the President of the Pennsylvania State Coroner's Association for one year. In January 1992, the Garcia's retired to Gouldsboro, Maine. In August 2002, Dr. Garcia and Lydia relocated to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to be close to their son and daughter-in-law. Recurrent kidney failure and cardiac complications forced Theodore into hemo-dialysis. Memorial Funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of St. Ana and St. Joachim in Benilloba, Spain.

Dr. Theodore Angel Garcia, M.D.

November 12, 1921 - June 21, 2013