Rodolfo G. "Rudy" Gracia

Rodolfo G. “Rudy” Gracia, 82, of San Antonio, Texas, was called home by our Heavenly Father on Sunday, June 18, 2023. Born on September 18, 1940, in San Benito, Texas, to Antonio H. Gracia and Marcela Garza Gracia, Rudy graduated from Los Fresnos High School (Go Falcons!) in 1960, then joined the Army, where he proudly served his country from 1960 to 1964 and was honorably discharged. He married his high school sweetheart, Adeline Atkinson, on September 16, 1962, in San Benito, Texas.

Rudy and Adeline moved to Albion, Michigan, where they had a son, Rudy Jr., in 1963, and a daughter, Rubilynn, in 1965. They returned to Corpus Christi, Texas, and had two daughters – Tanya Renae in 1968, and Tyanna Dawn (Dee) in 1973.

Rudy worked for Sears as an electronics technician, then for IBM as a computer technician. His work with IBM transferred the family to Houston, Bryan, and College Station, and it was during their time in College Station that Rudy lost his father, so he requested a transfer to the Rio Grande Valley to be closer to his mother. The transfer took the family first to Kingsville, then to Los Fresnos, and then to San Benito. The family made their way back to Corpus Christi in 1984, where Rudy was ordained in 1988 and officiated many weddings (including his own children’s). In 1997, as empty-nesters, Rudy and Adeline embarked on a new adventure and moved to Dallas where Adeline attended Christ For the Nations Institute (CFNI). After retiring from IBM, Rudy joined Adeline at CFNI, and in 2000, they graduated together with Advanced Pastoral Ministry degrees and moved to San Antonio. After spending several years in San Antonio with their family and helping to raise their grandchildren, Rudy and Adeline decided to take time to travel, so in 2013, they sold their house, bought a travel trailer, and hit the road to Mancos, Colorado, where they lived and worked at Mesa Verde RV Resort – exploring Colorado and making great friends – until Rudy’s health began declining, at which time they returned to Texas to be near their children.

Rudy is survived by his wife of 60 years, Adeline Atkinson Gracia, and their four children – Rudy (Grace) Gracia Jr. of San Antonio, Texas; Rubilynn (Scott) Peters of Converse, Texas; Tanya (Richard) Subialdea of Devine, Texas; and Tyanna Cates of Fort Worth, Texas. Rudy is also survived by: his grandchildren – Bradley (Alissa) Subialdea, Michael Subialdea, Meisha Meyer, Meagan Keller, Faith Meyer, Sarah Meyer, and Cambria Cates; his great-grandchildren – Aliyah Smith, Della Roppolo, and Thaddeus “Teddy” Subialdea; two sisters – Elida (Adolfo) Beltran of Bastrop, Texas, and Eva Cortez of Omaha, Nebraska; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews, and many, many friends and extended family. Rudy is preceded in home-going by his parents, Antonio H. Gracia and Marcela Garza Gracia; sisters, Esther G. Reyna and Lucinda G. Alvarado; nephews, Anastacio Reyna Jr. and Michael Alvarado; and niece, Diana Reyna.

Rudy was an avid fisherman and enjoyed taking his family out on his boat every chance he had. In their RV, with the boat in tow, Rudy and Adeline took their children (and then grandchildren as the family grew) on many fishing/camping trips, enjoying the outdoors and immediately frying up the day’s catch – making memories the family will always hold dear. Rudy was the consummate family man – loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Rudy cherished his family, and it is fitting that he was blessed to be surrounded by his loved ones as he entered eternal rest. Above all, Rudy was a Christ-follower and he loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with all his heart. Rudy will be missed immensely here on earth, but he is most certainly rejoicing in Heaven.

CELEBRATION OF LIFESATURDAY, JULY 8, 202310:00 AMEXCHANGE WORSHIP CENTER6801 WEBER RDCORPUS CHRISTI, TX