Mark Garcia (80) of Madera passed away on December 11, 2023, after a brief illness in a Fresno hospital. Mark was born on July 2, 1943, in Yakima, Washington. His parents were Mary Rodriguez and his stepfather, Martin Rodriguez.

Mark was raised in the Yakima area of Washington State, where he attended schools, played baseball, and wrestled in high school. He graduated from Wapato High School in 1961. In high school, he met his first wife, Ruth Salazar, before he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1962.

Following his military service, Mark and Ruth settled in Madera, where they raised their three daughters, Darla, Dawn, and Desiree.  He worked for 38 years at the Mission Bell Winery. He coached Little League and Pop Warner and, with Ruth, was active in the James Madison Elementary School’s PTA.

As his daughters became involved with their school's marching band, Mark actively participated in the band booster organizations at Thomas Jefferson Junior High, Madera High School, and Clovis High School. Mark and Ruth also volunteered their time with the California Dons Drum Corp, where they organized the chuck wagon when the group was on tour and helped with fundraising.

Three years after the passing of his wife, Ruth, Mark found love again with Ethel Olvera when they were married in June of 2006. With his marriage to Ethel, Mark gained a bonus family of five sons and four more daughters who gave the two twenty-eight grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren. Following his retirement from Mission Bell, Mark and Ethel were able to travel to Italy, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Canada, and Jamaica. But Mark’s biggest thrill was their trip to Peru and climbing to Machu Pichu. in the Andes Mountains.

Mark enjoyed learning anything about history, especially UFO or alien related. He was an avid fisherman, but his true talent was at the barbeque grill, where he enjoyed cooking for family and friends. His specialty was tri-tip, which came in handy when he would watch his favorite teams, the Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings, and the Fresno State Bulldogs. With his passing, Mark’s son Joey will continue the tradition of cooking the perfect tri-tip with the skills he learned from his dad.

Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Maria Rodriguez, stepfather Martin Rodriguez, wife Ruth Salazar Garcia, and son Jose Becerra.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Ethel Garcia, and three daughters, Darla (Scott) Lynd, Dawn (Tim) Philipp, and Desiree Garcia, and granddaughter Amber (Edgar) Campos, and three great-granddaughters Makayla, Maleah, and Madelyn. With his second marriage, four sons, Alejandro Becerra, David Becerra, Luis Rodriguez, and Joel Olvera Rodriguez and four daughters, Alma Hernandez, Marta Olvera, Anna Becerra, and Rebecca Lerma; Eight siblings; twenty-eight grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, with Funeral services beginning at 12:00 pm at Jay Chapel in Madera, California. The interment will follow at Arbor Vitae Cemetery in Madera, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations/remembrances can be sent to the National Kidney Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, or the charity of choice.