Elma Ortiz Rodriguez, age 77, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025. She was born to Eulogio and Elvira Ortiz on October 20, 1947 in Alamo, Texas. Being raised in a small town with a large family, Elma helped to provide by working in the cotton fields alongside many of her brothers and sisters during her youth. In sixth grade, she met her future husband, Domingo, although at the time he did not know it but she did. She attended and graduated from Gregory Portland High School in 1967. The Army took Mingo overseas to Germany where he served for two years during the Vietnam Era and upon his return he came back to marry his wife, Elma. Shortly after marriage, they moved to the Dallas area before settling in Grand Prairie. She worked for many years in the healthcare field with a servant’s heart at Methodist Hospital of Dallas, All Saints Hospital and retiring from Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth.
Elma enjoyed the slots at WinStar where she was often a winner - she had the best luck and we often wanted her to rub some of that on us, dancing cheek to cheek with her husband, she absolutely loved Bingo, and “Not giving a Hoot”. She loved the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Chiefs just like her husband did (only because of him). She enjoyed seeing their success after the passing of Mingo - she always knew he was the reason they were winning. She loved crafting - making bamboo, flower and succulent arrangements - she had an eye for that, buying her coffee cups, Corelle dishes and clothes, but above all she loved and cherished her family and friends. She was a caring, giving, and loving wife, mother and MoMo. We will miss her smile (when she didn’t want us to see it), her recent love of making peach cobbler (which was excellent), her eyerolls and saying “DUH” when she was right (which was always), and most of all her being here with us.
She was preceded in death by her husband and daughter, Domingo R. Rodriguez and Elissa Rodriguez, her parents Eulogio and Elvira Ortiz, her sister, Elizabeth Ortiz, her brothers, Edward Ortiz and Elvis Ortiz.
Survivors include their children Melissa (Val) Martinez, Lissa (Steve) Hilbert, Domingo (Patricia) Rodriguez, Jr , Donny (Mari) Rodriguez, and her beloved (grand)daughter, Olyvia Alvarez (Elvis Diaz). Their grandchildren: Valentin Jr, Diego Martinez, and Marcos Martinez, Cole Turnage, Issabella and Roman Hilbert, Andrew and Adrian Rodriguez, Ethan (Kayla) Rodriguez, Jacob Rodriguez, Catcher Rodriguez, Adi Rodriguez, and Brayden Irvin. Great Grandsons: Elvis Domingo Diaz and Keoni Kai Rodriguez, and best friends, Mary Campo and Nellie Nollie. Brothers - Eulogio Ortiz, Jr, Elix Ortiz, and sister, Edica Salinas, special Sister in Law, Delia Ortiz, special niece, Kim Anatra. She had numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
A visitation for Elma will be held Wednesday, August 6, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Grand Prairie Funeral Home, 733 Dalworth Street, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. A funeral service will take place on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM at the Funeral Home. A committal service will follow at 11:30 AM at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.
Pallbearers are Domingo Rodriguez, Jr, Andrew Rodriguez, Adrian Rodriguez, Donny Rodriguez, Steve Hilbert, Roman Hilbert, and Elvis Diaz, Jr.
Honorary Pallbearers are Valentin Sr, Valentin Jr and Diego Martinez, Elvis Diaz, Ethan Rodriguez, Catcher Rodriguez and Jacob Rodriguez
Family and friends may share condolences at www.grandprairiefh.com