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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
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of Rodolfo Roque Gaona, Sr., of Corpus Christi, who passed away on |
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March 4, 2013, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Aquilla on November 18, 1923, to Donaciano |
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D. Gaona and Alejandra Cisneros-Roque Gaona, Rudy Gaona was the |
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sixth of 10 children in his family, and he began working as a farm |
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laborer at an early age to help support his loved ones; he served in |
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the armed forces during World War II, becoming a corporal in the |
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306th Bomber Group in England; for his service, he received the |
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European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II |
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Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and a Distinguished Unit |
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Badge; after the war, he continued to serve this nation in the U.S. |
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Air Force Reserve for seven years; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gaona married the love of his life, Perla Ofelia |
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Garcia, on September 14, 1947, and they initially made their home |
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together in Edroy before moving to Corpus Christi; industrious |
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throughout his life, he drove long-distance tractor-trailers for a |
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time and subsequently became a valued employee of the Reynolds |
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Metals plant in Ingleside, where he worked for more than 38 years; |
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he was a proud member of United Steelworkers Union Local No. 4813, |
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which inspired him to advocate for social and civil change through |
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the political process; he also championed education, stressing its |
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importance to his children, and he proved that it is never too late |
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to learn by returning to school and earning his GED at the age of 64; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gaona was one of the founding members of Holy |
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Family Catholic Church and sang in its choir with his wife; he also |
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enjoyed singing corridos and spending time outdoors; above all, he |
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cherished his family, which grew to include five children, Rodolfo, |
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Robert, Elizabeth, Roland, and Cynthia, and two grandchildren, |
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Jasmin and Gabriela; and |
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WHEREAS, Rudy Gaona lived a life rich in the intangibles that |
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matter most, and he will long be remembered with deep admiration by |
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all those who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Rudy Gaona and extend |
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sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his children, |
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Rodolfo Gaona, Jr., Elizabeth Ida Gaona, Roland Adam Gaona, and |
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Cynthia Beverly Gaona; to his granddaughters, Jasmin Jacquelyn |
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Rivera-Portillo and Gabriela Angele Barrera; to his brother, Jose |
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Gaona; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Rudy Gaona. |