Arturo Pena Garcia, 75, of Palacios passed away April 5, 2021.  He was born March 5, 1946 in Palacios to Pablo Garcia and Guadalupe Pena Garcia.

Arturo was a United States Veteran who served in the US Army and served in Vietnam from Dec 7, 1969-Dec 6, 1970. Medals he received were Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert (M-16 Rifle), Sharpshooter (M-14 Rifle). He loved his country and was proud to be a United States Veteran.

He lived a quiet life with his wife Lucy. He spent most of his days working very hard on the shrimp boats and oystering. He was well known in Palacios by his nickname Hoppy. He loved his family, his friends, and most of all his grandchildren and great-grandson. He was a little rough around the edges and he told it like he saw it. He had a funny personality and made a lot of jokes. He was always making people laugh. He would often be seen driving around Palacios (very, very slowly) in his little tan Malibu. He would visit family and friends whenever he could to make sure everyone was ok. He was a sweet man with a heart of gold and well never ever be forgotten by the people's lives that he touched.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 9 brothers and sisters Estefana Garcia Flores, Taodora Garcia Calderon, Eusebio P. Garcia, Romolo P. Garcia, Genieva Garcia Cooke, Maria Garcia Rocha, Jesus P. Garcia , Pablo P. Garcia  and Virginia Garcia Benavidas and grandson Josh Hebel.

Survivors include his wife Lucy Chavez Garcia; daughter Melissa Montalvo (Leo); brother Thomas Garcia; grandchildren Jacob Quintanilla and Seth Quintanilla; great grandson Rylan Quintanilla and step-grandchildren Gabriel Montalvo and Mariah Montalvo.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM Monday, April 12, 2021 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church.  A rosary will be recited at 1:30 PM followed by Funeral Mass at 2:00 PM.  Interment will take place in the Palacios Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Jacob Quintanilla, Seth Quintanilla, Hector Garcia, Thomas Garcia, Tom Puentes, Martin Garcia, Paul Luera and April Garcia.  Honorary Pallbearers are Samuel Gomez, Sammy Gomez, Leo Montalvo, David Rocha, Oscar Garcia, Israel  Garcia, Orlando Garcia, Yolanda Garcia and Yvonne Garcia.