Rumaldo Vela entered into eternal rest on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Fischer, Texas. He was born on September 28, 1933 to Ignacio Vela and Feliciana Saldaña Vela in Falfurrias, Texas and was blessed with 90 years of life. Rumaldo proudly served in the US Air Force during the Korean War as a radio operator. He was a member of Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Mutualistas and a Sacred Heart Catholic Church Lector. He devoted over 40 years working for the La Gloria Butane Company as a Serviceman. Rumaldo enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and was an avid sports fan, especially when it came to the Dallas Cowboys.
Rumaldo is reunited in Heaven with his parents; wife and mother of his children, Lily Nichols Vela; two infant sons, Jose and Andres Vela; brother, Lionel Vela and sisters, Thelma Vela, Hilda Vela, Maria Lydia Perez, Benilde Gutierrez, and Alba Estella Naranjo.
Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Yolanda Perez Vela of Falfurrias and her family; son, Rumaldo Daniel “Danny” Vela of Falfurrias; daughters, Sandra Vela (Anselmo) Lozano of Fischer, Yvonne “Bonnie” (David) Garza of Corpus Christi, Texas and Margot Lily (Anthony) Zarate of Pearland, Texas; sister, Soila Perez of New Braunfels, Texas; eight grandchildren, Angela Deyo, Michelle Vargas, Eric Garza, Selena Garza, Joshua Vela, Erin Vela, Zachary Zarate and Alexis Zarate; four great-grandchildren, Leilene Canavacholo, Sophia Garza, Nola Garza and Javier Torres, Jr. and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Pallbearers will be Anselmo Lozano, David Garza, Anthony Zarate, Eric Garza, Joshua Vela, and Zachary Zarate.
Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024 at the Funeraria Del Angel Howard Williams in Falfurrias with Visitation beginning at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Falfurrias with Burial to follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery.
