2 years ago

Frank Montoya Garcia
1948 - 2022

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Frank Montoya Garcia, of Panhandle, TX. Frank sadly passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, after reaching the age of 74. He died peacefully within his home of many years in Panhandle with his beloved wife Barbara Cosper-Garcia and grandson, Coty Lofink.

Services for Frank will be at held at The River in Panhandle, on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 at 11 a.m., officiated by Pastor Matt Cordova. Burial will follow at the Panhandle Cemetery under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. The family will accept visitors at the funeral home on Sunday evening, Nov. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Frank was born in Pampa, on Oct. 4, 1948, to Virginia Montoya and Felipe Garcia. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and served honorably in the Vietnam War. After faithfully serving in the Navy, Frank returned home to the panhandle of Texas and married his late wife, Thelma Jean, and raised their two boys, Robert and George Lofink, while working at Pantex as a heavy line mechanic until retirement. Both Robert and George had children of their own and Frank was the greatest Papa who most grandkids had only dreamt about. To his grandkids he was their whole world and made them each feel so loved every day. There was never a time he wasn’t there for them as a shoulder to cry on or a lap to laugh on. After Thelma’s passing, Frank eventually met his best friend, and now wife, Barbara Cosper-Garcia. He gracefully accepted her family as his own and was able to share his amazing Papa love with so many more.

He was a longtime member of the Panhandle Fire Department and was still serving the city of Panhandle as Fire Marshall at the time of his passing. Frank enjoyed tinkering on all things and working on electronics, going to the race track every Saturday, he was an avid bowler and always enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was looking forward to going to a meeting at the Fire Department on Monday to see his crew and catch up. Frank especially loved the annual trips he and Barbara would take for his Navy Reunions. Barbara was always sure Frank would make the trip each year to be reunited with his shipmates and talk about the good ol’ days.

Frank is survived by his wife, Barbara Cosper-Garcia of Panhandle; son, Robert Lofink of Wisconsin and step-son, Robert Inman and wife, Candra of Panhandle; sisters, Rita Ann and husband, Louis Nolan of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Phyllis Baker of Merrill, Okla.; daughter-in-law, Toni Lofink of Denver, Colo.; grandchildren, Coty Lofink and wife, Melissa, Amber Kanda, Christen and husband, Chris Sobczyk, Ryan Lofink and wife, Kristina, Calie and husband, Jared Paulson, and Jaime Turzanski. Frank was also the proud grandfather to his many step-grandchildren, and all of his great-grandchildren.

Frank was so much to so many, and he will be so deeply and forever missed. We love you Frank, we love you Pop, and we love you Papa.

He is preceded in death by parents, Virginia Montoya and Felipe Garcia; wife, Thelma Jean Garcia; brother, Lewis Garcia; sister, Mary Davis; son, George Ross Lofink; daughter-in-law, Lisa Lofink and stepdaughter, Ann Marie Stamp.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Frank’s honor to the Panhandle Fire Department.