Michael (Mike) and Lerlyne Garcia

Lerlyne (nee McNiel) and Michael (Mike) Garcia met and fell in love while attending Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida. They graduated in 1958 and enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville.   Lerlyne interrupted her college education to work as secretary for a title/mortgage company and, after marriage to Mike in 1961, continued employment as a secretary, this time with Sperry Rand.  Mike completed his studies in 1963, earning a B. A. degree in electrical engineering.

The couple moved to Sunnyvale, California, where they lived for five years.  Mike joined Sylvania Electronic Defense Laboratories and, in addition to working as a systems engineer developing electronic countermeasures systems for the army and navy, he earned a masters degree from Stanford University in a combined program of electrical engineering and business administration.  During this time two daughters were born.  The older, Denise, and husband Steve reside in Richmond; Valerie, and husband Jon live in Forest.   The Garcias have four grandchildren, one a college graduate, two in college, and the fourth in high school.

In 1968, Mike accepted a job with AT&T in their Management Development Program and remained with the firm until early retirement in 1991.  During the first years of his tenure there, the couple lived in Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama (twice); and Atlanta, Georgia (twice).    Finally, in 1977, a transfer to AT&T headquarters in New Jersey allowed the family to settle for almost 15 years in the quaint southwestern town of Flemington, NJ.   Here, Lerlyne secured employment, again with a mortgage lending company, this time with the responsibility of researching and verifying property title histories.    In some cases, the searches became very involved as they led back to original land grants issued by royalty.

Throughout their years together, both have provided adult leadership for church youth groups, attended numerous musical concerts, and sung in church choirs.  They especially enjoy Southern Gospel Quartet singing.  Travel has always been a major interest.  While living in California they managed to explore the West coast from San Diego to Seattle, along with some interior sites such as Crater Lake and Yosemite National Park (their all-time favorite).   Other destinations have included Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska, and a variety of places in the British Isles, Europe, and Asia.

Upon retirement in 1991, Mike and Lerlyne moved to Forest, Virginia, putting them in close proximity to both daughters.  Not ready to be too idle, Mike accepted the position of Professor of Business at Liberty University, remaining there until 2006.  Once settled in Lynchburg, Lerlyne offered her time as a volunteer to World Help, located in Forest, along with leading a ladies’ circle group in the their church.

Mike’s and Lerlyne’s most recent volunteer work includes Gleaning For The World and Sports Outreach, a program that uses soccer as an evangelical tool, primarily in Africa.  Starting with their years growing up in Florida and continuing into the present, Mike and Lerlyne speak highly of the fellowship they have experienced with the many friends they made in their various churches and look forward to the same at Westminster Canterbury.   They enjoy playing golf, sometimes together, spending time with their grandchildren, and participating in their current church’s programs and activities.