MSG (Ret.) Alfred E. Rodriguez

Alfred is survived by his daughter Andrea Petermann and her husband Jerry Wayne Petermann of Pflugerville; his sons Alfred Clark Rodriguez of Bastrop; and Joseph Michael Rodriguez of Copperas Cove; his two grandchildren Kathryn Nicole Campbell and her husband Daniel Matthew Campbell of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Jerrold Clark Petermann and his wife Michelle Minor Petermann of Pflugerville.

Alfred is preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Joanna Blanche Campbell of Prairie City, Illinois who passed away on June 30th 2001; and his youngest son, Thomas Edward Rodriguez, who passed away on April 2nd 2010.

Alfred was born on December 9th 1919 in Floresville, Texas, to parents Alfred Luna Rodriguez and Julia Escobedo Rodriguez. It was said a blue norther had blown in that day, it was bitterly cold and everything had a layer of ice covering it. His father hitched up the team and loaded his mother into the wagon and to the doctor’s house they went some three miles into town. He was the third oldest son and is preceded in death by his two older sisters, Mary Courvier and her husband Andres and Antonia Rodriguez, one younger brother and sister, Pete Rodriguez and his wife Olivia and Jaunita Canellias and her husband Conrad. His parents owned and operated a restaurant and hotel as well as a farm in Floresville.

He joined the Army in 1942 and served honorably for 21 years in the United States Army and was a veteran of World War II serving in China, Burma and India as a medic. After the World War II was over Alfred was stationed in Galesburg, Illinois where he met his wife to be, Joanna, at a USO dance. They were married on November 1st 1945. He also served in the Korean war and was stationed at Fort Hood in 1952. In 1958 Alfred got orders for Germany and his family of five sailed the Atlantic by ship to Butzbach, Germany where the family also vacationed in France and Switzerland. Alfred said his wife was the perfect soldier’s wife because she was so organized in helping him plan and prepare. During his last seven years in the Army he changed his MOS to Tank Commander and was an expert coax machine gunner and sharpshooter on the 90MM M48 Patton tank gun. He then returned to Fort Hood and on October 31st 1961 moved into their new home in Copperas Cove.

He retired from the Army May 31st 1963. He then went on to work for 20 years at the restaurant and snack bar at Anderson Golf Course on Fort Hood, Texas. He was an incredible master of the culinary arts and loved to play golf and played up until 2009. He was a honorary life long and founding member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 6658, where he enjoyed helping out in the kitchen for many council functions and activities throughout the years.

After his retirement from Anderson Golf Course he was a socially active and a deeply spiritual man and was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Copperas Cove.

He enjoyed traveling and visiting with relatives from San Antonio, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona as well as visiting with his wife’s family in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and San Jose, California. He enjoyed watching football, playing baseball and golf and a little hunting and fishing. Stories are told of his younger years on the farm by family members who witnessed him hunting cotton tail and using only corn cobs to hunt them with. He had a very accurate throwing arm. Alfred Escobedo Rodriguez lived a very full life filled with adventure, love for nature, family and friends who will always remember him as a kind, caring and generous soul who will be deeply missed by all. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Alfred’s life.

A visitation will be held from 6:00pm - 8:00pm with a Rosary being recited for 7:00pm Tuesday, March 22nd 2016 at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home.

The funeral mass will be at 9:00am Wednesday, March 23rd 2016 at Holy Family Catholic Church. After mass Mr. Rodriguez will lie instate for visitation at the funeral home until 5:00pm.

Burial will follow at 2:30pm on Thursday, March 24th 2016 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Many of his friends throughout his life knew him as "Rod". He liked this saying:

“Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”

You may express condolences with the Rodriguez family by visiting www.crawfordbowers.org

Arrangements under the direction of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Copperas Cove, Texas.