Ruben Caballero

He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Mariano, Jose Guadalupe-Leonila, and Rodolfo Caballero. His surviving siblings are Marta-Rene+, Carmen, Homer-Angie, and Ramiro-Mari. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 44 years, Hilda R Caballero and his children Mirta, Linda, Andy-Missy, Sabrina-Eddie, and Ruben-Jackie and his grandchildren Christopher, Morgan, Logan, Jordan, Joshua, Catherine, and John-Paul and one great-grandchild Coralie and his former wife, Maria A. Pena.

He graduated from PSJA in 1961. He then joined the Navy as a reservist in 1961 as a senior in high school and was recalled to active duty in 1962. He served on the USS Iwo Jima LPH-2. He participated in nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and his ship was active in the South East Asian amphibious landing operations in Vietnam. Ruben was an Atomic and Vietnam Veteran. After his discharge in 1964, he began his long career in law enforcement.

After graduating from the Dallas Police Department (P.D.), he was employed with Dallas P.D. before returning to the Rio Grande Valley where he began his law enforcement career with Harlingen P.D. Ruben also worked for the Cameron County Sheriff Department, San Juan P.D., was a Reserved Deputy for Cameron County and Brooks County all the while maintaining his Master Peace Officer credentials.

In between his law enforcement career, he attended the University of Texas Pan American and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and InterAmerican Studies in 1975. He also worked as an investigator for the Law Firm of Allison and Sweetman.

Ruben also had two stores, Combes Grocery Store and El Reposo Grocery and Feed in Santa Elena, Texas. He also worked as a substitute teacher, process server, and obtained a real estate license. His passion and enjoyment was farming and ranching. His final position was working at the Visnaga Ranch in Brooks County for Steven and Elizabeth Burns. He will be greatly missed by those around him, and we will always carry joyful memories of him in our hearts.

A visitation for Ruben will be held Monday, March 27, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Heavenly Grace Funeral Home, 26873 N. White Ranch Road, La Feria, Texas 78559. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 920 Anaquitas St, Mercedes, Texas 78570. A burial will occur Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 Inspiration Rd, Mission, TX 78572.

The pallbearers are Christopher Balderston, Logan Caballero, Jordan Caballero, Joshua Caballero, Julian Caballero, and Arturo Aguilar. Honorary pallbearers are J.M. Gonzalez and Sgt. Jose A. Robles.

The family would like to give thanks to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Dr. Sumit Subudhi and staff, Dr. Julio Savinon and staff, Dr. Juan Garza, Dr. Sarhill, and Gentiva Hospice for their compassionate and loving care.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heavenlygracergv.com for the Caballero family.