Ruben Zapata passed from this life to his eternal resting place on November 18, 2020. He was born on April 23, 1943 in Mission, Texas to Jose Mauro Zapata and Marta Reyna Zapata. He moved to the Houston area in 1963 met the love of his life Eldemira Riojas Zapata in 1965 and wed in 1967. They have been married for 53 years and had five children. He worked at TxDOT and retired after 25 years of service where he made many lifelong friends. He loved his grandchildren very much and enjoyed watching all of their events from baseball, football, band, cheer to graduations.
He is preceded in death by his parents Jose Mauro Zapata and Marta Reyna Zapata; (sisters) Elida Rodriguez and Irma Zapata; (brother) Rene Zapata; and (granddaughter) Victoria Zapata.
Ruben leaves behind his beautiful wife Edelmira Zapata; (son) John Zapata; (son) Stephen Zapata and wife, Mary; (daughter) Christine Zapata; (son) Joseph Zapata and wife, Andrea; (daughter) Ruby Garcia and husband Lupe; and several grandchildren Klarisa Zapata, Kiara Zapata, Stephen Zapata Jr., J.D. Zapata Jr., Avy Zapata, Jake Zapata and Cristofer Garcia.
Ruben has many loving brothers and sister including (sisters) Maria Irene Mercado and Ernestina Perez; and (brothers) Rolando Zapata, Raul Zapata, and Ramiro Zapata.
Ruben (aka Dad, Grandpa, Chino, and “Rufus Malone”) will always be loved and deeply missed.
