Antonio Tonio Rosales Rodriguez

Antonio Rosales Rodriguez age 78 went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 surrounded by his loving family at his bedside. He is survived by his cherished wife Margarita Rodriguez, his loving children, Patricia (Juan) Willingham, Gloria Garza, Gilberto (Chela) Rodriguez and Rogelio Rodriguez. His loving grandchildren, Elizabeth Garza, Raul Garza, Joel Garza and Vanessa Garza, Jennifer Rodriguez, Rebecca Rodriguez, Daniel Issac Rodriguez and Gilberto Rodriguez II. Five beautiful great grandchildren. He was a great Uncle to many nieces and nephews and a great friend to all. Toñio will be greatly missed.

Visitation Friday, July 09, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Rivera Funeral Home 1901 Pecan Boulevard

McAllen, Texas 78501-6730 (956) 686-2224

Funeral Service, Saturday, July 10, 2010 Interment Guadalupe Cemetery, Pharr, Texas.

Antonio Rosales Rodriguez was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Tonio always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Tonio was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Tonio was born on August 19, 1931 at at 320 W. Juarez Avenue in Pharr, Texas. His parents were Teodoro F. Rodriguez and Virginia Rosales. Tonio was raised in Pharr, Texas by his Grandmother Apolinar Fuentes who he referred to as Mama Pola: his mother Virginia Rosales died shortly after giving birth to her last child Oralia. Always able to express himself well, Tonio possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Tonio was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Tonio was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Tonio was raised with six siblings. He had one older brother Ruben R. Rodriguez and five sisters Bella Rodriguez, Narcisa Rodriguez, Tomasa Rodriguez, Paula Rodriguez and Oralia Rodriguez. Tonio had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

Friends and acquaintances found Tonio an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Tonio was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. Later in life, he became friends with Alfredo Zuniga, Ricardo Perales, Jose Luis, and Ruben.

Tonio was attentive to Margarita's feelings, and he charmed Margarita and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Tonio was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Tonio identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Tonio was blessed with Four children, Patricia, Gloria, Gilberto and Rogelio.

Tonio was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Tonio’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Tonio was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Tonio could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was he was a truck driver.

Tonio enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were visiting his parents at the cemetery. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Tonio held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member St. Margaret Catholic Church.

Tonio’s natural leadership qualities placed him in consideration for public recognition, earning him accolades for his many and varied efforts throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included he was the Best Uncle, Best Grandfather Best Father.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Tonio truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Chicago, Illinois.

Congestive Pulmonary Failute. He is survived by his wife Margarita, his children Patricia (Juan), Gloria, Gilberto (Chela) and Roy. Tonio was laid to rest in Guadalupe Cemetery in Pharr, Texas.

Tonio was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Tonio had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Antonio Rosales Rodriguez.

Arrangements under the direction of Rivera Funeral Home, McAllen, Texas, Memorial by Concepción Rodriguez, Funeral Director, Chicago, Illinois.