Cypriano Frank "Soupy" Garcia

Cypriano “Soupy” Frank Garcia

Born: September 16, 1928, in DeGraff, KS

Preceded in death by: his father: Ygnacio “Shorty” Garcia; his mother: Angel Antasia Gonzales Garcia; wife: Irene K.G. (Meyer) Garcia; and a brother: Rosalio, “Gus” Garcia

Survived by: Sister: Reymunda Ornelas; Brother: Thomas (Beverly) Garcia of Wichita; Son: Ron (Joni) Garcia; Granddaughter: Lexi (Jordan) Lies of Leon; Grandson: Paul (Donna) Garcia of Wichita; and nine great-grandchildren: Hunter, Cheyenne, Lakyn, Canyon, Izzy, Tristen, Toby, Troy, and Eva

He received his nickname early in life during elementary school, as his teacher couldn’t pronounce Cypriano. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for over 22 years as a Sargent First Class and was a Vietnam War veteran, having received the Bronze Star. He also served in other major conflicts including the Berlin Air Lift in 1948 and the Berlin Wall Crisis in 1961. After his military career, he still wanted to help his country by joining the Civil Service and worked for many more years at the McConnell Air Force Base in the Commissary, helping military families anyway he could. He truly was proud to be a first generation American and always wanted to serve his country.

His greatest and favorite job was being “OPA”, a grandfather and great-grandfather. He had a very special relationship with his two grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. We think he loved them the most and was always looking forward to seeing them whenever they would come by for a visit.

He had, what we in the family say, is the “Garcia disease” … which is that we all work very hard! We always strive to put more into things than we receive back. He had a very strong work ethic and was never shy of doing a day’s hard work, no matter the task.

He had a soft heart and would always be there to help others when he could. He liked his coffee buddies, of whom he outlived most of them. He was a softspoken and quiet guy, which makes it hard to believe that he was a Drill Sargent at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, training young men from the Northeastern states, such as New York and New Jersey.

He grew up in Douglass, Kansas and graduated from high school in 1948. He enjoyed playing basketball in high school, and in the Army when he was stationed in Germany. After his service in the Army, he moved back to Douglass where he spent the rest of his life.

I believe he watched every western movie and television show that had ever been made. When you gave him a DVD, he would easily say, “I’ve already seen that one”! He was most certainly a John Wayne fan, especially for his Cowboy Western and Military movies.

He always was a strong and independent man, and self-sufficient his entire life. However, his health in the past several years did slow him down. His mind was sharp, and hearing was almost nonexistent, but he could read lips pretty well! If he would have had two good knees, he probably would have tried to live another lifetime! He lived a long and happy life, but his body did grow tired trying to keep up with him. He sadly passed away on January 13, 2022, at the age of 93.

He never professed to be a man of God, but I heard him talk about, and to, God many times. He had his own relationship with the Almighty. So, I hope that God will put him into his Army to stand watch or to serve wherever is needed in Heaven’s Kingdom.