Olga Garcia Rangel De Palafox, age 94, of El Dorado, AR, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, surrounded by her family.
Olga will be lovingly remembered by her son-in-law, Dale Tommey of El Dorado and her granddaughter, Maria (Tommey) Sloan (Chris) of Springdale.
Olga was preceded in death by her parents, Felipe Garcia and Maria Rangel Garcia; her daughter, Olga Maria Tommey; her son, Gustavo Antonio Palafox; and her four siblings, Mary, Felipe, Jorge, and Raul Garcia Rangel.
Olga was born October 12, 1930 in Havana Cuba. Tennis was her greatest passion for most of her life and an avenue through which she discovered love and cultivated lifelong friendships. She began playing in 1948 at age 17 when a friend in Cuba introduced her to the game by inviting her to take lessons. She won the first tournament she entered 2 weeks after she picked up a racket for the first time. After that, she was hooked. She went on to be a Junior Champion that year for Cuba.
It was through tennis that Olga met her husband, Gustavo Palafox, through his mixed doubles partner at the 1952 Good Neighbor Tournament in Miami, Florida. At that time, Olga was a National Champion of Cuba, and Gustavo a National Champion of Mexico. They were engaged the following week. Every time Gustavo played a tournament during their yearlong engagement, he made sure to stop through Havana to see her. They married in August of 1953.
Throughout her life, Olga won numerous national championships, tournaments, and awards. She was most proud of her 3 National Championship titles in singles, 4 in doubles, and 5 in mixed doubles for Cuba. When she married Gustavo and moved to Mexico, she was a 3 time mixed doubles National Champion of that country with her husband. In the United States she won a singles National Championship in the 45 and over age group and 17 doubles National Championships in various age group divisions. She and Gustavo were both inducted into the Arkansas Hall of Fame for their tennis achievements in 1982.
In addition to playing tennis, Olga was also a Tennis Umpire for 15 years, 6 of those a Stadium Umpire and referee. She was named Umpire of the Year in Arkansas in 1976, and would travel in the South to give Umpire Clinics.
In her later years, Olga enjoyed any sort of game, gameshow, or puzzle. She was an avid word search and solitaire player, and she could not be beat in the hardest level of Tetris on the Nintendo. You could always find her in the evenings watching the Gameshow Network when she wasn't working on a jigsaw puzzle.
She was a devout Catholic, demonstrating unwavering faith through regular attendance at Mass, and a life guided by Christian virtues. Her commitment to prayer and service reflected a sincere and profound dedication to her faith.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the medical team and staff at Hudson Memorial Nursing Home for the compassionate and dedicated care that was provided during her four-year residency.
A memorial service will be held at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in El Dorado, AR on April 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Young's Funeral Directors of El Dorado, Arkansas.
Online condolences may be expressed at youngsfuneralhome.com for the De Palafox family.
