Ivy J. Rodriguez, Jr., “Rod”, age 78, died peacefully surrounded by his loving children in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Sunday, January 12, 2020. He was born and raised in Westwego, Louisiana. He was a 1961 graduate of West Jefferson High school. As a young boy, Ivy had a love and aspiration to become an aviator. He began his aviation career as a teenager. He worked at the Westwego Airport, washing airplanes in exchange for rides and flying lessons and completed training for his private pilot rating. Immediately following high school, he began working at Monarc Welding Supply. While working at Monarc, he completed his commercial pilot’s license rating. His first job as a commercial pilot was as a salesman with Bill King Company representing and selling Text steam equipment for oil production in the early 1970s and 80s. While working for Bill King Company, he also obtained his Multi-Engine and Complex aircraft ratings. While still working for Bill King Company, he ordered his last aircraft, a Cessna 180 S/N –N6BK. From this, he acquired the nickname, “Sky King 6BK.” As a young man and throughout his life, Ivy was a member of the Civil Air Patrol (“CAP”). He volunteered much of his free time with the Civil Air patrol earning the rank of Captain and flying many missions throughout his time with CAP. He was also was a member of the New Orleans Navy Flying Club located at the NASJRB, Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Southern Seaplane Association, life time member of the Air Force Association, and a member of the Commemorative Air Force, formally known as the “Confederate Air Force.” Beyond our father’s love for being an aviator pilot, his second true passion in life was professional scale model building. His extraordinary talent, allowed him to take a manufactured model and detail the model to its exact appearance with precision and accuracy of the actual operational machine. While not only building replicas in his personal time, he was commissioned by clients such as John Hooper, Textron Marine and Southern Sea Plane, because of his astonishing talent. He was a remarkable man of overwhelming abilities. He is preceded in death by his high school sweetheart, Jennie M. Rodriguez with whom he married in 1962 and had three children. He is survived by his sons, Scott Michael Rodriguez (Tammy Rodriguez) and Christopher Patrick Rodriguez (Janet Rodriguez); daughter, Ashley Rodriguez Rohde (Edward Rohde, III); his second wife of 30 years, Shelby S. Rodriguez; step children, Bryan Joseph Benoit, Jr., Melissa B. Matherne and Wade Anthony Benoit; brother, Donald P. Rodriguez; sister, Kathleen Rodriguez Hunton; grandchildren, Christopher “Blake” Rodriguez, Gia Elizabeth Rodriguez-Langham, Devin Scott Rodriguez, Justin Cole Rodriguez, Brittany Rodriguez Pettway, Tori Michelle Rodriguez and Matthew Edward Rohde; and six great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Gia Elizabeth Rodriguez; and parents, Ivy J. Rodriguez, Sr., and Genevieve Tregre Rodriguez.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass on Friday, January 24, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:00 am at Westside Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 5101 Westbank Expressway, Marrero, LA 70072. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Mausoleum in Westwego.
Tower to N6BK you are now clear for takeoff. May you forever fly in blue skies and tailwinds.
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