Epigmenia "Pime" Ortiz

Epigmenia “Pime” Rodriguez Ortiz went to be with the Lord on May 23, 2016, at the age of 104. A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother, she was born on March 24, 1912, in Mamulique, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, to Juan and Luz C . Rodriguez. Her family immigrated to Cotulla, Texas when she was 12 years old. It was there that she later met and married Lorenzo Ortiz, Jr. When Lorenzo accepted employment at Kelly Air Force Base in 1952, they moved their family to San Antonio, Texas.

Because Lorenzo worked long hours, Pime assumed primary responsibility for rearing their eight children. She was a strict disciplinarian who believed strongly in the power of education and personal responsibility. She helped provide for her large family by running a small grocery store out of her home and by calling upon her excellent skills as a seamstress and laundress. Because she had limited formal education, she made sure her children understood that a strong work ethic and a commitment to education are the paths to success. Every summer, she and her sons worked in agricultural fields in the Midwest , leaving the day after school ended and returning the day before school began. This commitment to education produced remarkable results. All 8 children graduated from South San Antonio High School and enrolled in college. Among them, they earned a business college degree, six bachelors, 4 masters, and two doctoral degrees. All had successful careers: Angel and Arcenio were skilled machinists; Amparo, a secondary school teacher and coach; Lorenzo Amador, a computer analyst; Amadeo, the Sheriff of Bexar County; Alba, a university professor; Albert, San Antonio Chief of Police; and Alma, an education program director in the juvenile justice system.

Always involved in community and political activities, Pime’s proudest moment was becoming a citizen and gaining the power of the vote. On her 101st birthday, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa presented her an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol. Pime received numerous other honors for her community involvement, including the Hispanic Women’s Network’s Las Estrellas Award and being named a Grandmother of the Year by the Mexican American Business and Professional Women’s Club of San Antonio. She encouraged her children to engage in civic service and was proud that all her sons served in the military and that Ampie was a Peace Corps volunteer. The Bexar County Commissioner’s Court presented Pime the prestigious Hidalgo Award in recognition of her civic contributions and those of her children, all of whom have worked to improve the quality of life in their communities.

Pime was preceded in death by Lorenzo, her loving husband of 55 years; her son, Arcenio (“Archie”); her parents; and 4 brothers and 3 sisters. She is survived by sons, Angel (wife, Sara); Lorenzo Amador (Amparito); Amadeo (Liz); and Albert (Elizabeth); and by daughters, Amparo “Ampie” Hayes (husband, Homer “Butch”); Alba (James Yates); and Alma. She is also survived by her sister, Candelaria “Cande” Garcia; 18 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Pime was a gifted story-teller and well-known for her incredible intellect and sense of humor. She will forever be an inspiration to those whose lives she touched with her love, support, and guidance.

Visitation will be on May 31, 2016, at Funeraria Del Angel/Roy Akers Funeral Home, 515 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, Texas, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., with the rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on June 1, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Josephs Catholic Church-South San, 535 New Laredo Hwy, followed by graveside services at Mission Burial Park South, 1700 SE Military Drive.

Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Roy Akers, San Antonio, TX.