Obituary of Ernesto Gardea Garcia Sr.

Ernesto Gardea Garcia, Sr., age 83 of Lodi, California, passed away on Monday, November 27th. He was born November 7, 1940 in CD Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico to parents, Jose Hernandez Garcia and Evangelina Gardea. On August 28, 1965 he married Evelyn Belasco at the Park Chapel and they shared 58 years together until her passing. 

Ernesto worked in automotive repair as a body and fender man for 52 years and was also a racecar driver. One of his proudest achievements was opening his own body shop. He enjoyed the time he spent working on cars, watching races and cops, and gambling. He’ll be remembered most as a great dad and grandfather. 

Ernesto was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Evelyn Garcia. He is survived by his children, Sophia Munguia (Gilbert), Ernie Garcia Jr. (Linda), Sonya Garcia, and Domingo Garcia (Kendra); grandchildren, Ashley Adams, Joel Moreno Jr., Andrew Garcia, Domingo Garcia Jr., Ernie Garcia III, Alyssa Arrollo, Nick Garcia, Sarah Moreno, Rudy Garcia, and Cathie Cruz; and great-grandchildren Adalina, Danny, Bella, Benicio, Noah, Isabella, and Ace. 

Services will be held at Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S. Fairmont Ave., in Lodi, on Tuesday, December 5th with a visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by a memorial at 11:00 a.m. 

A private interment will take place at a later date at Farmington Memorial Park, where Ernesto and Evelyn will be reunited.