Rodolfo Torres, age 80, died peacefully at home surrounded by his four beloved children on Monday, June 18, 2012. He was born on June 29, 1931 in Laredo, Texas, to the late Casimiro and Francisca Torres.
He graduated from Laredo Martin High School and went on to attend Texas A & I University in Kingsville, Texas, where he earned his Masters of Education degree. It was at Texas A & I where he met and later married Maria Reyes in 1958. She preceded him in death in 2002.
Rodolfo served in education for 43 years. He was an elementary school teacher at Hopkins and Dudley Elementary, and later served as assistant principal at Patti Welder Intermediate School. He subsequently was the principal at Hopkins Elementary School for 24 years. His passions were his love for his family and education. He was a lifetime member of the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, Classroom Teachers Association and the Texas State Teachers Association. He worked with the Boys Club and Boy Scouts while at Hopkins, and sat on the Board of Directors with Children’s Services. He was also a member of the DeLeon Club and the Teachers Federal Credit Union where he served as Vice President. Along with numerous other endeavors, he taught at the Adult Learning Education Center, taught conversational Spanish at UHV and trained student teachers at UHV as well as taught private Spanish lessons for adults. He was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church where he served on the Finance Committee. He received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his lifetime, but his proudest honors were having the Hopkins Elementary School library dedicated in his name as well as the Rodolfo Torres Elementary School named in his honor.
He is survived by daughters, Anna Deluna of St Petersburg, FL, Sylvia Torres Hartley and husband, Tim, of Sugar Land; sons, Rudy Torres Jr. of Houston, and Jose A. Torres of San Antonio; grandsons, Ruben Deluna Jr. and wife, Sarah, of Pleasant Hill, CA, Ryan Deluna of Jersey Village, Tim A. Hartley of Sugar Land, Jose A. Torres Jr. and Lorenzo Torres of Carrizo Springs; granddaughters, D’Lisa Deluna of Katy and Jenna Hartley Jarisch of Victoria; great-granddaughter, Elena Deluna of Plesant Hill, CA.
He is also survived by sister, Francisca Soto, and brothers, Salvador and Macedonio Torres. He was preceded in death by sisters, Catalina Escobedo, Josephina, Carmen and Guadalupe Torres.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at Rosewood Funeral Chapel. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, June 21, 2012, at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral with Father Stan De Boe officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ruben Deluna Jr., Ryan Deluna, Tim A. Hartley, Jose A. Torres Jr,, Lorenzo Torres and son-in-law, Tim Hartley.
Honorary pallbearers include James Jarisch, Abel A. Arriazola, Ruben Deluna Sr. and David Balzen.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the special care given to him by Margaret and Ignacio Pedraza, Crystal Mata, Cory Garcia and Hospice of South Texas.
The Family requests that donations be made to Torres Elementary School, 4208 Lone Tree Road, Victoria, Texas, 77901, in lieu of flowers.
Words of comfort may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
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