Miguel Garcia

Miguel Angel Garcia, affectionally known as “Mike,” age 86, of New Albany, Ohio, peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, surrounded by family.

He was born in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, to Eloy Garcia and Felicita Flores-Garcia on November 26, 1939. At the age of 12, Mike moved to Brooklyn, New York, to live with his brother and worked at his brother's grocery store after school. In 1958, he graduated from Eli Whitney Vocational High School, where he was voted “Best Physique” by his classmates. Soon after, he was led to join the military, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. He was trained at Amarillo Air Force Base (AFB) in Texas to repair high performance aircrafts and was stationed at Lockbourne (renamed Rickenbacker) AFB in Columbus, Ohio, from February 16, 1962, to February 15, 1966. He was honorably discharged as a Vietnam War veteran.

After serving his country, Mike was employed for ten years at Superior Die and Tool on Parsons Avenue and later worked at General Motors as a skilled tool and die maker and supervisor until his retirement in 1999.

In 1962, he met his soulmate, Edna Method, in Columbus, and they were married by Pastor Robert Gratez, a great friend of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in August 1963, a few days before the March on Washington. From this union, they had three children, Jeffrey Andres, Ana Maria, and Phillip Andre, and six grandchildren. The couple recently celebrated their 62 nd wedding anniversary.

Mike joined St. Philip Lutheran Church in 1974, where he served on the church council as a trustee, an active member of Men in Mission, and a volunteer in the food pantry, picking up food from Mid-Ohio Food Bank and Kroger. Later, he was employed as the church custodian for 22 years and retired in October 2022.

Mike was always physically active and was a great gymnast, so much so that he had the opportunity to try out for the Olympics but instead chose to enlist in the military. He also enjoyed playing racquetball against opponents much younger than himself, who were impressed whenever he beat them! Additionally, Mike was an avid Ohio State University football and basketball fan. One of his favorite pastimes was watching all types of sports on TV.

Mike and Edna traveled to many destinations with family and friends. He especially liked going on jazz cruises and also loved his Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks!

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, several brothers, and sisters. He is survived by his loving wife, Edna; son, Jeffrey (Icilda) Garcia; daughter, Ana (Craig) Curry; son, Phillip (Tanya) Garcia Sr.; six grandchildren, Phillip Garcia Jr., Miguel Garcia, India Curry, Jordan Garcia, Austin Garcia, and Malia Curry; three bonus grandchildren, Brittaney (Timothy) Barnes, Cameron Walker, and Blair Weiseger; sisters, Olga Stewart and Binicia Santiago, of New York; niece, Hassie Feliciano, nephews, Rusty Stewart, Juan Santiago and Ishmael (Maria) Garcia; along with many special friends at St. Philip, a host of nieces, a nephew, relatives, and friends, all whom he loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1506 E. Long St., Columbus, Ohio, 43203, in memory of Miguel A. Garcia or online by scanning the QR Code below.