Gilbert Rodrigez Poa, Sr. was born on the 13th of May 1933 in Gonzales, Texas to Santiago Poa and Camila Rodriguez Poa. In 1943, the Poa Family moved to Houston, and in 1949, he, along with his father, established Poa’s Lawn Maintenance and Landscaping, Inc. Gilbert met the love of his life, Sylvia Delgado, and married her on the 22nd of January 1955. They enjoyed 63 years of marital bliss while raising five children. Together, they were a testament of true love. Their adoration and compassion for one another is the legacy they leave behind for their future generations. Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, the 11th of May 2019, surrounded by family.
Gilbert was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, camping and barbecuing for his family. Many family memories were made along the Guadalupe River where he would take his immediate and extended family annually.
He was a naturally talented artist, a self-starter, mechanically inclined, a carpenter and an architect. Many of the beautifully landscaped homes in River Oaks and Tanglewood owe their prestige to his meticulous vision and hard-working hands. Ever the dedicated and tireless worker, he successfully led his business until he was diagnosed with cancer in 2017.
Gilbert was a lively storyteller and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren enjoyed visiting him and Sylvia’s home to hear his memories come alive. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and was revered as a patient, kind and gentle man. His employees remember him as a fair and honest business owner.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Santiago and Camila Poa; his wife, Sylvia D. Poa; and siblings Guadalupe Martinez, Johnny Poa, Juanita Poa, Gloria Poa and Pedro Poa. He is survived by his siblings, Josephine Velasco and Jim Poa; and five children, Mary Lou Vasquez, Rita Liandro, Anita Bertucci, Gilbert Poa, Jr. and Caroline Ramos. He leaves behind twelve grandchildren, Virginia Aleman, Xavier Vasquez, David Vasquez, Vincent Vasquez, Angela Davila, Monica Liandro, Abraham Liandro, Michelle Liandro, Rachel Ramos, Rebecca Ramos, Krystal Poa and Caterina Clayton; and eleven great-grandchildren, Melinda San Miguel, Michael Aleman, Mark Aleman, Mila Aleman, Sergio Vasquez, Marissa Vasquez, Jaiden Vasquez, Cristian Argueta, Mijael Alaire, Nicholas Clayton and Logan Witmer.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 4th of June, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The funeral service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 5th of June, also in the Jasek chapel, where David Bailey will officiate.
Interment will immediately follow, via escorted cortege, at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston
Those he has left behind are heartbroken over his departure and will miss him dearly.
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