He was surrounded by his family and his loving wife of 44 years, Teresa "Terry" De Leon.
Rudy was born September 2, 1953 in Laredo, Texas to Rodolfo Sr. and Juanita De Leon. He was the oldest of 8 children. Rudy and his family moved to Corpus Christi not long after he was born and it quickly became their home.
He was a 1971 graduate of Foy H. Moody High School. He proudly joined the US Navy in 1973 and served as an E-4 Hospital Corpsman for 4 years, being honorably discharged in 1977.
On October 19, 1974 he made the best decision of this life, this decision would take him on his greatest adventure of all. Rudy married Terry Baltazar in Corpus Christi, Texas. Together, they raised 4 children and lived a life full of happiness, joy and an enduring love that was an example to all who were blessed to know them.
Rudy joined the Corpus Christi Fire Department in 1978 and for the next 37 years proudly served his community as an EMT- Paramedic and firefighter. While he was in the Fire Department, Rudy had the honor of serving his fellow firefighters as Local 936 Treasurer and Pension Trustee. When Rudy retired in 2016, he was one of the most senior firefighters on duty and was respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him. While working as firefighter, Rudy was also worked as onboard the USS Lexington for 13 years.
Rudy is survived by his loving wife, Terry; his children, Joseph Baltazar, his wife, Joanne; Christopher Michael De Leon, his wife, Gracie; Luis Rudy (Chito) De Leon, his wife, Linda; Roxanne De Leon Trevino, her husband, James. His pride and joy were his grandchildren: Isaiah Christopher De Leon, Ananda Salinas, L.G. Salinas, Isaiah Rivera, Avery De Leon, Aiden Trevino, Landen Trevino and Arielle Trevino; his sister, Belinda Cantu; brothers, Richard, Roger, Reynaldo and Robert De Leon. His brother in law, Alex Baltazar; sisters in law, Beatrice Guerrero, her husband, Ernest and Rosemary Diaz, her husband, Rudy.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Rodolfo Sr and Juanita De Leon; his in-laws Alex and Olga Baltazar; sister Gracie Puebla; nephews Oscar Cantu Jr, Oscar Drew Cantu, and Steven De Leon; and brother Raul De Leon.
Rudy was a lifelong fisherman who enjoyed casting his line out into the waters surrounding Corpus Christi. He also loved riding his Harley Davidson, attending the various events his grandchildren participated in and taking road trips with Terry, especially to Coushatta Casino in Louisiana.
Farewell services for Rudy will be held at Funeraria Del Angel - Memorial Holly located at 3442 Holly Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78415. The rosary will be held on Monday October 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm. The family will be begin receiving visitors at 5:00 pm.
The funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday October 22, 2019 at 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church, located at 2509 Nogales St, Corpus Christi TX 78416. Burial services will follow at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery, located at 9974 I-37, Corpus Christi, TX 78410.
Pallbearers will be his brothers from the Corpus Christi Fire Department: Jeremy Sandoval, Mark Solis, Scott Marsh, Tony Perez, Homer Sierra and Dave Smith. His grandsons will also serve as honorary pallbearers.
Rudy’s family would like to thank the staffs at both University Hospital in San Antonio and Spohn Shoreline in Corpus Christi for the loving and attentive care they gave him over the years.
Also, to his brothers in the Corpus Christi Fire Department for their incredible support, camaraderie and friendship over the years. They will forever be grateful.
Terry would also like to especially recognize her grandson, Isaiah De Leon. Isaiah helped her care for Rudy in the final months of his life and she could not have done it without his loving care for his grandpa.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelMHolly.com for the DeLeon family.
