Gilda Garcia Garza of McKinney, Texas passed away May 8, 2019 at the age of 69. She was born April 18, 1950 to Raymond Earl Garcia and Maria Del Carmel (Urbano) Garcia in McKinney, Texas. Gilda was a 1968 graduate of McKinney High School. She continued her education at National Training Institute of Technology and Business College in South Dallas studying Computer Automation and attended Collin College majoring in Business Management. Gilda worked in administration for twenty years for North Texas Job Corps, a Department of Labor training program before her retirement in 2016. As a native of McKinney, Gilda contributed and served her city in many capacities. She was a member and served as a local and national officer for the McKinney LULAC Chapter #608 for many years. In 2000, Gilda was elected to the McKinney City Council, as the first Hispanic female to be elected to city government, and was re-elected twice, the maximum terms allowed. She ran simply because her District needed representation. She served District 1, which she felt had been neglected, specifically its infrastructure. She’ll never forget when a council member drove her around her district, one street after another, and together, they prioritized which street needed the most work. She also recalled standing up for her district when council proposed a new community pool. Thanks to her, the children on the east side of McKinney got their pool. Gilda was a lifetime member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in McKinney.
She is survived by her daughter, Andrea Nichols and husband, David of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, Cristian Biddenstadt, Ysabel “Yzzy” Nichols and Piper Nichols all of McKinney, Texas; sister, Onesma Dominguez of McKinney, Texas; sisters-in-law, Martha Garcia of Plano, Texas, Patsy Garcia of McKinney, Texas and Helen Sepulbeda of McKinney, Texas; numerous nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.
Gilda was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Carmel Garcia; siblings, Ysabel “Ace” Sepulbeda, Felix “Bull” Garcia, Raymond “Wildman” Garcia and wife, Doris, Alfonso “Ben” Garcia, Jesse “Terry” Garcia, Maria “Anita” Garcia; brother-in-law, Rudy Dominguez; and nephews, Raymond Garcia and Tony Garcia.
A funeral mass will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 16, 2019 at St. Michaels the Archangel Catholic Church, 411 Paula Road, McKinney, Texas with Father Juan Carlos Marin Cortes officiating. Interment is to follow at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. A rosary is set for 6:30 p.m.