Raul Hernandez Paredes

He attended elementary and high school at San Beda College, then went on to obtain his degree in Mechanical Engineering from National University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He placed second in the national board exams of Mechanical Engineering and received the award of Outstanding Mechanical Engineer from the Philippines Association of Mechanical Engineers. He graduated with Highest Distinction from the Jesuit University, Ateneo de Manila, for his Masters in Business Management.

He joined Caltex Petroleum in 1960, where he served for 30 years. He began as a sales engineer and eventually took early retirement in 1998 as Vice President for Strategic and Business Planning. During his tenure at Caltex, he occupied several positions, including Marketing Director, VP of Technology, Region VP for Caltex Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, and was Chairman of the Board for Caltex Philippines. He also served his country as Assistant Secretary for the Ministry of Energy and Senior VP for Petroleum, Shipping, and Transport for the Philippine National Oil Company.

Raul moved to Dallas in 1987 where he was invited to join the Caltex head office in Irving, TX. He became an active member of Mary Immaculate Church in Farmers Branch and served on the Parish Finance Committee and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also served on a council of lay advisors to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who was the Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas at the time.

After his early retirement from Caltex, Raul worked alongside his wife, Aurora, to become Double Platinum Ambassadors for Reliv International. Now that he was able to be with his wife and family full time, they traveled extensively together and he continued his education with online courses of history, philosophy, and the opera. He cherished the opportunity he had to join a mission trip with the Kalogris Foundation to Haiti. He was also able to serve with his wife and children at the Kalogris feeding centers in Smokey Mountain and Cavite,Philippines. One of his most treasured acts of time tithing was working alongside the workers of the Talleres de Nasaret of the Siervas de San Jose in Quezon City, Philippines, with his family. During trips to Manila, Raul and his family spent at least one day with them.

He was a proud and active member of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club, where he served as the Rotary President from 2011-2012 and was voted Rotary President of the Year for District 5810. He also mentored at Farmers Branch Elementary School.

He had a great sense of humor and was always surrounded by laughter. He was an endless source of entertainment and had the gift of storytelling. He also provided so many people, especially his children, with advice and counsel, passing along his “Raul-isms”…

• Show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are

• Always take the high road and keep your nose clean

• Never make emotional decisions

• Life is not fair, welcome to the real world

• Just always give it your best shot

• God gives you two roads, which one will you choose?

• Make sure you pray about this – always entrust everything to God

Raul was so devoted not only to his nuclear and extended family, but also to his friends. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, community member, mentor, and friend. He was kind, compassionate, generous, and disciplined. More than anything, he preached the Gospel by living it. He will be sorely missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jose and Natividad, and his son, Paolo. He is survived by his wife Aurora, his children Dondi and JoAnne, Marinette and Vinh, Joanna and Josh, Benjamin and Brittany, and his grandchildren Nicole, Karlo, Daniella, and Isabella.

The family welcomes donations to the Kalogris Foundation in lieu of flowers as their work meant so much to Raul.

https://www.relivkalogrisfoundation.org