Rafael "Ralph" Peña

Rafael Peña of Houston, Texas, at age 93, joined our Heavenly Father on the morning of July 13, 2022. He was born to Jose Peña and Leonor Saenz Peña in Mercedes, Texas on January 17, 1929. He grew up surrounded by a large family including five siblings. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia, in December of 1956.

Rafael was first and foremost a family man. He put his family first and gave them anything he could any time he was needed. He was always giving advice and support to the ones he loved. Food was his love language, preparing carne guisada, chicken and rice, and of course, barbeque on the grill with his famous homemade barbeque sauce. Hunting was also a passion for him. Bringing home deer sausage, ribs and steak was a real treat for all of us. Rafael has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for several decades serving as treasurer and Grand Knight only retiring from the organization at the age of 92 for health reasons. He volunteered at every fish fry and parish bazaar to help the Catholic community. For many years he enjoyed an evening at the bowling alley after joining a bowling league.

Rafael graduated from Mercedes High School. He was a veteran, serving in the United States Air Force as a Staff Sargent. He remained an active member of the VFW, Veterans of Foreign Wars. As a proud veteran he supported other veterans as a volunteer at the Houston Veterans Hospital. He attended the University of Texas in Austin earning his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering.

Rafael is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Reyna Peña, and son, Richard Rene Peña, his sisters, Elva Diaz, and Elia Leal. He is survived by his children, Gloria Pickett, and family, Christopher, Ashley (Ross) Lange, Braxton and Ava; Ron (Diane) Peña, and family, Callie (Matt) Schultz, Kristen (Kyle) Bohac and Cortney and son Emerson; Ralph Peña; and Sylvia (Jeff) Steiner, and family, Rachel, Amanda, and David; Veronica Peña and family, Jonah (Katelyn), Paulina, Danielle, Christina, and Nathaniel, and his sister, Emma Gutierrez and his brothers, Jose Peña and Eduardo Peña.

His family feels blessed and proud to have known Rafael as a devoted father, loyal brother, and faithful friend. He will be deeply missed by the countless lives he touched and to all those to whom he lent a helping hand. Rafael was everyone’s sweetheart with his loving smile and twinkling eyes. He lives on in our hearts.

A visitation and reception for Rafael will be held on Monday, July 25 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home, 12555 South Kirkwood in Stafford, with recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel at Earthman Southwest Funeral Home.

A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, July 26 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 8200 Roos Road in Houston.

The Rite of Committal will follow, via funeral procession to Houston National Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with his family at www.earthmansouthwest.com.