Rogelio C. Palma was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Kelly always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Kelly was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.
Kelly was born on January 7, 1950 at home in Presidio, TX. His parents were Jose and Petra Palma. Kelly was raised in Presidio, TX. Always able to express himself well, Kelly possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Kelly was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.
Blessed with a balanced attitude, Kelly was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Kelly was raised with 8 siblings. He had 4 older brothers, Raul, Ruben, Ismael, Daniel and 2 older sisters, Irene and Beatrice and 1 younger sister, Virginia, and 1 younger brother, Antonio. Kelly had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.
Kelly was attentive to Monica's feelings, and he charmed Monica and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Kelly was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.
Very much like a kid himself, Kelly identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Kelly was blessed with three children, two daughters, Joann and Sandra, and one son, Rogelio Jr. They were also blessed with 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, Melissa Palma, Amanda Rodriguez, Elijah Palma, Abigail Rodriguez, Kimberly Palma, Rogelio Palma III, Shannon Palma, Shane Palma, Leonidis Palma, Wyatt Rios, Aria Palma, Ruby Palma, Chanson Garrett, and Colton Garrett.
Kelly was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Kelly’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Kelly was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Kelly could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was Public Works Section Chief. He was employed for 31 years by The City of Houston.
Kelly was an Army veteran. Kelly was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was in the Headquarters Supply & Company from 1968 to 1970 and spent part of his enlistment in Japan as well as stateside at Fort Ord in California. He achieved the rank of SPC4. He received several awards including a National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.
Kelly enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were hunting, collecting firearms, fishing, and working on vehicles. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.
Kelly held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church.
Travel and vacations were experiences that Kelly truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included traveling to visit family in West Texas and New Mexico.
Kelly was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Kelly’s favorites was Desi, a mixed Pomeranian. They were best friends for twelve years. His family was rounded out by his Blue Healer/Lab mix, Bruno.
When Kelly’s retirement finally came on June 1, 2001, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed.
Kelly passed away on January 15, 2018 in Pasadena, TX. He is survived by his wife, Monica; his children, Joann, Sandra, and Rogelio Jr; his 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Services were held at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church. Kelly was laid to rest in Grandview Memorial Park in Pasadena, TX.
Kelly was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Kelly had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Rogelio C. Palma.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grandviewfunerals.com for the Palma family.
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