Rodolfo De La Garza

Rodolfo de la Garza, 82, of Brownsville, entered into eternal rest on November 8, 2007 at Solara Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

Rodolfo was born on January 14, 1925, to Eleuterio de la Garza Cantu and Maria Cantu Zozaya.

He attended St. Joseph Academy and graduated in 1941, as Valedictorian. Always an avid learner, he taught himself trigonometry and studied classical music. He was accepted into Rice Institute now Rice University in 1941, based on his academic record and subsequently enrolled in the two year Navy ROTC V12 Program. Rodolfo was recognized for the 1941-1942, academic year as a Scholar with Special Mention and in 1943, was elected in to Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

In February of 1944, he was commissioned as an Ensign and served in the South Pacific during WWII where he served aboard the USS Alaska with Wally Schirra, one of the original seven Mercury Astronauts. During his tenure on the USS Alaska he received a Purple Heart.

Rodolfo then returned to Rice to complete his studies and in February of 1947 was elected to Associate Membership in the Society of Sigma Xi Engineering Research Society. In June of 1947, Rodolfo graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering With Distinction. He continued his studies at Rice Institute and in June of 1949 received a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.

As he furthered his studies at Rice and through 1950, Rodolfo also worked at Houston Power and Light as an Electrical Engineer.

In 1950, Rodolfo moved to Brownsville where he assisted in managing the family business, E. de la Garza Wholesale Grocery, Inc., until 1958. In 1959 Rodolfo began a brick plant in Matamoros where he manufactured handmade brick. By 1968 he had begun in the trucking business hauling his brick in to Texas and Louisiana and returning with lumber. He eventually expanded his business to include multi-family real estate investment; this business continues to operate.

On December 26, 1970, Rodolfo married Mary Yoli Miller Yarritu with whom he had three children.

In 1996, Rodolfo re-entered the family business, a business he then purchased from the family in 1999. E. de la Garza Wholesale Grocery continues to remain open.

Rodolfo was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Eleuterio, Guillermo, Jos Luis, Roberto, Antonio, Fernando, Enrique and Andrs de la Garza.

He is survived by his wife, Yoli de la Garza, his children: Rudy, Jr., William Steven, Edward Malcolm, Mary Louise Brown, Martha Susan, Carlos Andres, Luis Antonio and Teresa Jolie de la Garza; his sister Maria Dellinger, his grandchildren: Michelle, Steven, Joel, Jeffrey, Jessica de la Garza, Gregory and Marilyn Brown, Mariela, Ximena and Deidre de la Garza; and three great-grandchildren: Sebastin, Sathina and Saviandra Trevio. He is also survived by his long time caretaker, Irma Castilleja, who so lovingly cared for him.

Visitation will begin, today, Saturday, November 10, at 10a.m., with a holy rosary to be recited at 8p.m., in the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 11, at 3p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church with entombment to follow to Buena Vista Burial Park.

Pallbearers will be Rudy, Jr., Steven, Eddie, Carlos, Luis and Joel de la Garza.
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