Hector Estuardo Garcia passed away on February 16, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his spouse, Olga Garcia, and his children, Aida Garcia-Franks, Gabriela Ybarra, and Estuardo Garcia. 

Hector’s life began on September 10, 1956, in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He was the first child of Carlos Garcia Urrea and Sara Marina Rhodas and the younger stepbrother of  Verena Santamaria and Edwin “Tune” Pacheco. He was the older brother of Sara Carolina Garcia. 

Hector spent his formative years as a creative and imaginative child, often making up his own games or building his own toys. Sometimes that creativity led to some questionable, if not dangerous, choices, but it was all in the name of discovery. As his parents divorced, he found comfort and stability with the Galvez family, who counted him as an adopted son. This was a relationship that he would continue to honor to the end. 

As he got older, he began to channel that creativity into art and music, often drawing his favorite wrestlers, like El Santo, in the margins of his catechism book. He also taught himself how to play the guitar and would often serenade the neighborhood. One day, in the summer of 1973, those dulcet tones reached the ears of Olga Janet Berducido Samayoa. After a few years of courtship, they would be married on May 7, 1977. 

In 1986, fearing for his family's safety, the Garcias immigrated from Guatemala to the United States. He would often share the story that they came to the US with a holy trinity: Three kids, three suitcases and $3,000. The first few years in the United States, the Garcias lived in Chicago, IL. In 1990, Hector was hired at Hallmark Cards. The family moved to Kansas City, where they would permanently take root in Lenexa. 

His career gave him an outlet for his creativity. For 25 years, he designed and created things for Hallmark – from greeting cards to store design and displays. 

Outside of work, Hector was a prolific painter. He loved watercolors, pencil sketching, and even embraced digital illustration. He loved jazz music and taught himself how to play many instruments. These two loves culminated in some of his proudest works. In 2021, his idea, “Jazz: The Resilient Spirit of Kansas City,” was selected for a KC Streetcar Wrap. In 2022, the Parade of Hearts selected two ideas for their inaugural launch. One heart continued with his Jazz theme. The other heart was meant to symbolize a golden locket.  This heart is now housed near Gretchen’s Garden for Heroes at Midwest Transplant. 

He successfully raised three children with his loving wife. But he really found his calling as a grandpa. There was no diaper too poopy, no shirt without spit up, and no face too silly to bring laughter and joy to his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

In his retirement, he traveled the globe with Olga. They continued to build on their love by visiting different countries such as Austria, Germany, Czech Republic as well as many others.  

When in the States, he loved spending time with family at his “casita”. There was no home project he wasn’t willing to tackle, including room renovations and even major electrical work. He would also find so much joy in helping his wife in the garden, beautifying their home.  He was a true Renaissance man. 

Hector was preceded in death by his father and mother, as well as his brother, Dr. Armando & Aida Galvez, and Juan Ramon Galvez. He is survived by his spouse, children, six grandchildren – Maya Garcia, Cruz Ybarra Jr., Isiah and Josiah Ybarra, Elia and Mateo Franks, and two great-grandchildren, Judah Bell, Mylo Garcia.