Reynaldo Alvarado Garza

Reynaldo Alvarado Garza

1943 - 2020

Reynaldo Alvarado Garza, born March 3, 1943 in Nuevo León, Mexico, entered eternal rest on September 28, 2020. The son of migrant farmworkers, Rey spent many years as a farmworker before building his career as a truck driver—a profession that allowed him to travel the country and provide opportunities for his children that surpassed his own. He was a loving husband who spent 53 years alongside his wife Maria Angelita Castillo Garza. A natural storyteller, he loved sharing stories of their courtship and adventures together.

Rey was a longtime union man who instilled in his children a strong work ethic and the value of social justice. Along with two of his brothers, he was involved in helping organize farmworkers in Salinas, California when César Chávez and the UFW came to the Salinas valley in the 1970s.  In his younger years, along with his family of orientation/creation, he was a migrant farmworker, working in the onion and cotton fields in various states of the Southwest.

He was a caring father who showed his children how to laugh and passed along his love of dance and singing Norteño and corrido music.  Quick and witty, he was a consummate jokester.  His larger than life personality filled a room. “ Ya llegó tío Rey ” was the phrase heard at every wedding, quinceñera, or other celebration to signal that everyone’s favorite uncle had arrived and there was fun to be had. He loved all his nieces and nephews and always came up with endearing nicknames for each and every one. Of all the roles he filled throughout his life, his most cherished were “huelo” and “huelote.” He loved being a grandfather and great grandfather. His gifts and legacy live on through his beloved family.

Reynaldo is preceded in death by his parents Genaro and Estefanita Garza as well as his brothers Rufino, Roberto, and Genaro.  He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Maria Angelita Castillo Garza and three children: Maribel Garza, Reynaldo Garza Jr. (wife: Maria Elena Garza), and Marisol Garza (partner: Thomas Haynes) as well as three grandchildren, Indicca (partner: Miguel Telles), Stefany, and Dominik, and his great-granddaughter, Mia Grace Telles.  Reynaldo, "El Rey," is survived also by his other siblings Raquel Garza (Harlingen, Texas), and Hisauro Garza, and Estela Garza Meza (California).

Visitation: Monday, October 5, 2020

Time: 4:00 - 8:00pm

Prayer Service: 6:00pm

Location: Compean Funeral Home Family Chapel

Funeral: Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Time: 10:00am

Location: Compean Funeral Home Family Chapel

Interment: Woodlawn Garden of Memories