Rene Rendon

Rene was born in Alice, Texas on March 25, 1943, to Enrique Rendon and Cruz Torres. He graduated from William Adams High School in 1961 and immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force. Rene proudly served for 21 years, during which he was stationed in Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Italy, Colorado, Alaska, and Texas.

During his time in the Air Force, Rene attended evening classes in order to achieve his goal of obtaining a college degree. After many years of diligent study, Rene secured his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University in 1983 and his MBA from St. Edward’s in 1992.

After graduating from St. Edward’s, Rene worked for several years at Tandem Computers and Texas Instruments, and then after 18 years of service to the people of Texas, Rene retired as a Lead Auditor with the Compliance & Practices Division of the Texas Worker’s Compensation Commission.

When Rene was 16 years old, he met the love of his life, Iris Velazquez in his hometown of Alice, Texas. Two years later, after enlisting in the Air Force and being stationed in Wichita Falls, Rene and Iris were married and had 2 children, Cindy and Debra.

During his time serving in the Air Force, Rene and his family lived all over the world and were eventually stationed in Austin, Texas, where he was honorably discharged in 1982. While stationed in Austin in 1979, Rene and Iris had a third child, David Henry Rendon, their one and only son.

Rene was a dedicated husband and father and he worked tirelessly to make sure that his wife and children were provided for and protected. One of the most valuable lessons he passed on to his children was the importance of prioritizing God above all things, followed by family, and then work. Rene loved traveling with his family and spent many summers camping and taking road trips all over Europe and the United States. He later spent his retirement years sailing the seven seas with his wife and family on cruises, including trips through the Panama Canal, around South America, throughout the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe. Rene was a lifelong learner and enjoyed studying history, reading autobiographies, playing chess, strategy games, crossword puzzles, and sudoku. He loved music and dancing with Iris to their favorite oldies. Rene was a skilled pitmaster and always enjoyed smoking brisket and sausage for family barbeques. He was a talented mechanic and spent many weekends working on his home and cars.

During his golden years, Rene and Iris enjoyed spending time at home with each other, watching Gunsmoke and listening to their favorite songs. Rene was an avid Texas Longhorn fan and loved watching the Horns play football with his family. He was a devoted Catholic and a parishioner of St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church. During Covid, Rene and Iris enjoyed watching the broadcast of the Daily Mass, especially when their son-in-law, Deacon Richard Tucker was assisting.

Rene is survived by his wife Iris Rendon, his daughter Cynthia Tucker and her husband Deacon Richard Tucker, son David Henry Rendon and wife Angela Rendon, his brother Juan Rendon and wife Hilda Rendon, his brother Gil Garza, his sister Elizabeth Garza, and five grandchildren, Aaron Tucker, Kathryn Tucker and husband Alexander Larsen, Christopher Ojeda, Alexis Castillo and husband Jose Manuel Castillo, and Angellina Ojeda, and two great grandchildren, Mia and Moe Sanchez. Rene was proceeded in death by his parents, his brother Enrique Rendon, sisters Consuelo Zamora and Eloise Guerrero, and daughter Debra Lynn Rendon.

The family wants to thank Dr. Robert Norris, Rene’s primary care physician, and the staff of Hospice Austin, including Alli Suder, RN, who cared for him during his illness.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will follow at 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, 126 W. Oltorf St., Austin, TX 78704. Interment to follow at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 S I-35 Frontage Rd., Austin, TX 78704.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church food pantry, 2303 Euclid Ave., Austin, TX, 78704. https://st-ignatius.org/food-pantry

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