Raul Cruz

Raul Cruz Mendoza, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, was called Home by our Heavenly Father on July 6, 2021 at the age of 65. Raul was born on February 20, 1956, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He immigrated to the United States with his parents and younger siblings in 1972 and settled in Austin, Texas. Not without its challenges, Raul quickly learned English in school to finish his education that began in Mexico. Receiving an education was important to him. He was a proud Maroon and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1976.

Raul had a love for travel and exploring new places so it’s no surprise his first career would be as a commercial truck driver for Mobil, White Swan, Kraft Foodservice, and U.S. Foodservice. In 2001, he then went to work for H-E-B on E. 7th Street for 19 years as their Lead Receiver and Loss Prevention Partner.

If you asked Raul, his greatest accomplishment wasn’t his ham radio operator experience known by his call letters KB5HTB or his handyman skills or his career. It was being a father and grandfather. Raul met his wife Doris through her younger brother in 1979. It was love at first sight for both of them. He never stopped planning the adventures and dreams they could have together. From cross-country trips by planes, trains or automobiles, he wanted to share his life with his wife of 42 years. He desired more than anything to be surrounded by his children, grandchildren and family.

Raul was known for his intelligence, humor, generosity, confidence and as a trusted handyman, a foodie, and a collector of knick-knacks. As a life-learner of new skills, he also had a passion for teaching others. He embodied the teaching of Matthew in 4:19, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Raul loved to play harmless pranks and get a good laugh at their expense. If he found a good meme, you can be sure he shared it to his Facebook wall and sent a text to everyone he knew. There wasn’t a tool he didn’t own, a food he wouldn't try or a friend he wouldn’t make. In his spare time, even after retirement, he spent it working on his ranch “El Charquillo” to create a family retreat they would enjoy. With courage and his will to live, he tied in all of his best strengths for the opportunity to spend intimate time with his family in his final days. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but know he is at peace with God. “Until we meet again. Somewhere in time.”

Raul is survived by his wife Doris Cruz; his daughters Leticia Mendoza (Felipe), Debbie Rodriguez (Jason), Doris Faz (Sergio) and Sattie Peinado (Adrian); his grandchildren Cristabela, Gael, Adriana, Eloise, Emma, Clarissa and Carina; and his siblings Dolores Leal, Jose Castillo Mendoza, Carmen Padilla, Laura Cruz, Paula Cruz and Pedro Cruz. He is predeceased by his parents Guadalupe Cruz and Victoria Mendoza; and his siblings Bertha Castillo, Angelica Castillo, Carmen Alvarado, and Pedro Castillo Mendoza.

A visitation for Raul is planned for Monday, July 12, 2021, from 4pm - 8pm (Rosary at 7pm) at the Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home on 2620 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 10am at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church at 126 W. Oltorf Street, Austin, TX 78704. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery.