

Gonzalo Rodriguez, 97, entered the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, October 10, 2025. He was born in Houston, Texas, on January 10, 1928, to the union of Jose Rafael and Josefina Victoria Rodriguez. With the exception of his service in the U.S. Navy, he was a lifelong resident of Houston.
Gonzalo was a devout Christian whose life of faith began in the waters of baptism at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on September 30, 1928, officiated by Rev. F. Caldwell, O.M.I. He had a long-standing relationship with God and remained deeply blessed in his faith until his dying breath.
He joined the military as a teen and served honorably as a Seaman First Class at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, until his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in December 1947.
Gonzalo enjoyed the art and science of timekeeping instruments. With a strong aptitude for precise mechanical work and after completing formal training, he worked as a horologist, diagnosing and repairing mechanical issues with watches and clocks. Often without readily available replacement parts due to the aftermath of WWII, he skillfully used his eye loupe to work with miniature mechanisms, repairing, cleaning, and maintaining timepieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose Rafael and Josefina Victoria Rodriguez; his younger brother, Pasqual Rodriguez; his sister-in-law, Eva Garza Rodriguez; and his brother-in-law, John M. Griffin.
He is survived by his sister, Amparo Rodriguez Griffin; four nieces: Sylvia (Kenny) Brumlow, Rosa (Vern) Buzarde, Jeanne (Ed) Williams, and Susan Jackson; and one nephew, John J. (Janet) Griffin. He is also survived by numerous grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. He will be fondly remembered for his gentle spirit and love for family.
A funeral service to honor the life of Gonzalo Rodriguez will be held at Forest Park East, located at 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598, on Friday, October 24, 2025. Visitation will be available from 9-10 a.m. Services will begin at 10 a.m. He will be laid to rest at his final burial place at 11:00 a.m. Members of the active-duty military will play taps, and an American flag will be presented to his sister, Amparo Rodriguez Griffin.
For the last ten years, Gonzalo had been a resident of Good Living Community Care in Houston, TX. The caring staff provides exceptional assisted living care for veterans. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Good Living Community Care in his honor.
PALLBEARERS
Vern BuzardePallbearer
John J. GriffinPallbearer
Michael SmithPallbearer
Bryan SmithPallbearer
Cameron SmithPallbearer
Ken SmithPallbearer
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