Cecilio Cruz

Cecilio is survived by his wife Connie, children Manuel, Luis, Daniel, Lynda, and Amanda, ten grandchildren, Lori, Jacki, Selena, Stephanie, Alexis, Ashley, Bella, Luis II, Isaac, and Olivia, and seven great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Anthony, Ireana, Brooklyn, Christian, Tessa, and Mia. He is also survived by siblings Teresa, Roland, Mary, Alex, Rosie, and Becky. He is preceded in death by his parents Gilbert Sr. and Rosa of Corpus Christi, TX, his siblings Gilbert Jr., Reynaldo, Yolanda, Margarita, and Robert.

Cecilio was born on March 18, 1942 in Corpus Christi, TX to Gilbert Sr and Rosa Cruz. He joined the United States Army in 1959 and earned his GED while serving. He served in Germany as an Advanced Medic from 1962 until his Honorable Discharge in 1965. Cecilio volunteered for service in Vietnam but was denied transfer to the Southeast Asian Theater from the Europe Theater. He returned to Corpus Christ, TX where he worked as a hospital orderly. He married Connie Garcia in 1966 and after the birth of his son Manuel moved to Dallas where his second son Luis was born in 1970. He found work with the Simmons Mattress Factory when, in 1974 he settled in Carrollton, TX where he welcomed Daniel, Lynda, and Amanda. Cecilio worked for Otis Engineering as a certified Assembler of oil production lines between 1977 and 1995. When Haliburton purchased Otis Engineering and downsized the workforce, he joined the Carrollton Parks and Recreation Department and retired as a Certified Chemical Applicator 2012.

Cecilio was devoted to God and his family. He became an active member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church before its naming in 1981 when masses were celebrated at Woodlake Elementary, later June Thompson Elementary. He was a familiar fixture in the church, volunteering as an usher at mass and organizing charitable donations for the community poor. His children remember him as a kind, gentle, patient father who encouraged them to pursue their goals and to take pride in a job well done. One must take pride in their work whether one was building a bridge or sweeping a floor.

Public viewing will be held at Rhoton Funeral Home at 6:00PM Thursday April 27, 2017 followed by a Rosary at 7:00PM. The funeral mass is to be held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Community in Carrollton, 1705 E Peters Colony RD, Carrollton, TX at 2:00PM Friday April 28, 2017 followed by a funeral at Hilltop Memorial Park, 1810 Perry RD, Carrollton, TX at 3:30PM. The family will gather afterward. Fr. Augustine Kolapuram TOR will officiate the ceremony.