Ernest "Ernie" Walter Garcia

Ernest (Ernie) Garcia, 89, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2025 at Hyland Hills Memory Care in Westminster, Colorado. He was the beloved husband of Ruby McGrath, to whom he was married to for just over 70 years.

Born in Walsenburg, Colorado to Ernest Rollins Garcia and Tomasita Sandoval Garcia. His father Ernest, a second-generation coal miner made the decision to move to Denver in 1940. It was in a small brick house built in 1880 located at 3541 Wynkoop Street that his parents made their lifelong home and began a new life far from the coal mines of southern Colorado. Ernie attended Garden Place Elementary School, Cole Middle School, and graduated from Manual Trade/High School in Denver in 1952. It was at Manual that Ernie met the love of his life, his beautiful wife Ruby, and they married in 1954. In 1953 Ernest began working for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (later acquired by Union Pacific Railroad) as a Carmen apprentice, later on to other positions held as well. He retired in 1995 after many years of service, with pride and gratitude for his fellow employees and friends made over 40 years. He worked hard to provide for his family and is greatly missed and appreciated.

Ernie enjoyed greatly conversations with friends and family. He loved helping other people and enjoyed being busy. He loved teaching and sharing his knowledge with his children and grandchildren and shared his love of fishing, camping, working with tools, yardwork and sharing his life experiences. The life he and his wife enjoyed after retirement was spent enjoying more family time, renovations, camping, fishing, traveling, dancing and therapy trips to the Blackhawk casinos.

He is survived by his wife Ruby, his sister Ada (Jim) Powers-Muncher, his brother Lynn Garcia, and his two sons, Mark (Cynthia) Garcia, Perry (Bernice) Garcia, and daughter, Theresa (Scott) Riddell, and his Honorary daughter, Penny (Patrick) Ringsby. Ernie is also survived by nine of his ten grandchildren: Shana, Dionne, Marcus, Chelsea, Trenton, Trevor, Justine, Phillip, Luke, and three great-grandchildren, as well as numerous other wonderful nephews and nieces.

Ernie was predeceased by his parents, his brother Jacob "Jack” Garcia, his son William "Bill" Garcia and grandson Ernesto Garcia.

A memorial celebration of Ernie's life will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (IHM) on Monday, April 14, 10:55 a.m. (eulogy) and 11:00 a.m. (funeral mass). A reception to follow immediately at the reception hall at IHM. Services will conclude at the church.