Stephen ´Les´ L Garcia

Stephen L. "Les" Garcia, 72, of Berwick, passed away Friday, March 29, 2019 at Sunset Ridge Healthcare of Bloomsburg, where he recently had been admitted. He was born September 24, 1946 in Paia-Makawo, Hawaii, son of the late Antone and Emily (Ventura) Garcia. Les graduated from Maui High School and attended junior college in Hawaii. He then worked as a baseball sportscaster, at times sharing the microphone with the late Harry Kalas of the Phillies. Les served in the National Guard and was called to active duty during the Pueblo Crisis in 1968. In 1972 he moved to Berwick where he worked as a pressman at Keystone Publishing and also as a short order cook. Les married the love of his life, the former Nancy Hontz in 1977. They would have celebrated their 42nd anniversary this month. During their years together, Nancy and Les hosted six foreign exchange students. Les enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling and sports, particularly, the Berwick Bulldogs. He was especially fond of his Lhasa Apsos: Sammy and Max. As well as his wife, Les is survived by step-son, Arthur Casey and wife, Patricia of OH, step-daughters: Valerie Slade of Scranton and Angela Norris of Berwick, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, brothers: Bernard, Clarence, Bobby, and Larry, and sisters: Caroline, Bernie, and Mary Jo. In addition to his parents, Les was preceded in death by brothers: Eugene, Harold, James, John, Ernest, and Angel and sisters: Emily, Hedye, Vivian, and Veronica. Les's funeral is 11:00 AM Thursday, April 4th at St. Luke Lutheran Church of Bloomsburg where he was a member. Pastor Luther Martell will serve as the celebrant. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 AM until time of the funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Les's memory be sent to the Pinnacle Health Foundation, PO Box 8700, Harrisburg, PA. 17105.