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Bob lived a life marked by service, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping others.

Robert Ruben Garcia, Jr., known to many as Bob or Bobby, passed peacefully at his home in Arlington on August 20, 2026. He was born on January 23, 1942, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Bob lived a life marked by service, compassion, and a deep commitment to helping others. He graduated from Texas A&M University and went on to serve in the Army. His military service brought him to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a move that would ultimately lead him to make his home in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

He began his professional life working for Metro, where he spent a number of years designing new Metro stations. In time, he devoted himself to education and student support, serving for more than 20 years at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington,VA as a guidance counselor. In that role, he assisted immigrant families, especially Hispanic and Latino families, and worked primarily with the HILT program. He also served as a liaison between Washington-Lee and Hispanic and minority students and their families, offering guidance, advocacy, and steady support to those who needed it most.

His dedication to the community extended far beyond his daily work. In 2008, he was a member of LULAC Council #11041 and part of the organizing committee for the 79th LULAC National Convention in Washington, D.C. By 2013, he was serving as Virginia State Director of LULAC, and from 2015 through 2017 he continued to appear in national LULAC records in that role, participating in an organization engaged in national education and civil-rights advocacy. In 2014, he received Arlington’s Connect with Kids Champion recognition for his work with minority students and LASA. These honors reflected a life spent building connections, opening doors, and standing beside families and students with generosity and purpose.

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He assisted immigrant families, especially Hispanic and Latino families, and worked primarily with the HILT program.

Bob was also remembered as a kind and helping person, someone whose presence brought comfort and encouragement to others. Through his work, his community involvement, and his personal relationships, he left a lasting impression on many lives.

He was married to his wife Sheila for 50 years. They met through a church group at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where they would later be married. Their life together became an important part of the family he cherished so deeply.

Bob is survived by his sons, Matthew and Michael ; his sister-in-law, Carmen Garcia; his nieces, Kiki, Delia, and Katie; and his grandchildren, Jackson, Jemma, George, and Nora. He took great pride in his family, and his love for them remains part of the legacy he leaves behind.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sheila; his mother, Mary and Father Robert, Sr.; and his brother, Rudy Garcia.

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Bob was also remembered as a kind and helping person, someone whose presence brought comfort and encouragement to others.

Robert Ruben Garcia, Jr. will be remembered with love and gratitude for his years of service, his devotion to students and families, and the kindness he extended throughout his life. His memory will remain a blessing to all who knew him.