Rodrigo F. Rodriguez

Rodrigo was born in Brownsville, Texas on February 21, 1930, to Manuel and Margarita Rodriguez. He spent his formative years in Houston, Texas where he grew up with his siblings Raquel, Romeo, and Rubina.

Upon completion of High School, Rodrigo Rodriguez joined the National Guard in South Texas in 1947. While in the National Guard he trained in the operation of heavy trucks and half-tracks, a task that he enjoyed and would recall with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Shortly after the Korean War broke out, Rodrigo Rodriguez joined the United States Navy and trained as an Electronic Technician at the USN ET School located at Treasure Island near San Francisco, California. Upon completion of his training he served as a Radar Technician aboard the light aircraft carrier, USS Bataan (CVL 29). Although he claimed to have never seen the enemy, he was responsible for maintaining the radar systems that provided real-time flight tracking of the complement of Marine Fighter F4U-4B Corsairs (The "Checkerboard" Squadron).

When on shore he was periodically assigned to the "night shift" duty of monitoring and maintaining the military radio station. He recalled enjoying this "after hours" task because he had the freedom to request many of his favorite Jazz recordings available within the studio collection. He once recounted with a grin that if the station D.J. refused to play his requests, he would decrease the modulation of the radio transmitter, which would significantly limit the station coverage, until the D.J. relented.

Rodrigo met his wife Aurora in Brownsville, Texas and the two frequently wrote each other while Rodrigo served overseas at the US Naval Communication Station at Guam. Aurora and Rodrigo married on June 26, 1954, and soon left Brownsville to embark on a new life in Southern California.

Upon completion of his Naval Service he used his earned G.I. bill benefit to attend California Polytechnic State University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Electronic Engineering and a minor in Biology in 1957. His first career assignment as an Electronics Engineer was at the RCA Medical Electronics division located in Camden, New Jersey. After a year the program was cancelled upon which he returned to California to take a position as an Aerospace Engineer specializing in electronic component evaluation and qualification for space rated satellites and missile systems. He worked in this capacity first at Litton Industries in Woodland Hills, California and then completed his career within the same discipline at the Hughes Aircraft Space and Communication facility in El Segundo, California.

Rodrigo and Aurora's Catholic faith played a pivotal role in their lives. In June 1975, Rodrigo was ordained a Deacon and ministered at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Canoga Park, California. During this period Rodrigo found great fulfillment in cultivating his faith and humbly serving the Catholic community.

Rodrigo is preceded in death by his parents Manuel and Margarita Rodriguez; sister Raquel Rodriguez; and wife Aurora Rodriguez.

Rodrigo is survived by his brother Romeo Rodriguez; sister Rubina Berry; three children Roberto Rodriguez, Beatriz Rodriguez, and Ricardo Rodriguez; and his three grandchildren Aurora Pringle, Daniel Rodriguez, and Sean Rodriguez.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 22, 2019, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Porter Loring Mortuary in San Antonio, Texas.

The Graveside Service will be held at 2:30 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.