Gonzales

Santos Gonzales, 86, of Tanglewood/ Rockdale died peacefully in Bryan on Dec. 28, 2023.

Santos was born Jan. 19, 1937, in Paige to Andres O. and Maria Gonzales.

Mr. Gonzales

He was a graduate of Giddings High School in 1955 and was a bronze med al i s t in pole-vaulting at the Texas State Track Meet.

He attended Blinn Junior College on a track scholarship.

He was a Nav y veteran stat ioned in Monterey, California. He was a standout pitcher for his base’s softball team. His final tour was abroad the U.S.S. Midway in Vietnam.

While stationed in Monterey, he met Eleanor Gonzales and they were married on Nov. 15, 1960, in Watsonville, CA. They had five daughters.

The family moved to Texas, where he retired as a computer programmer with Alcoa’s Rockdale Works after 35 years.

He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 7014-Rockdale, St. Joseph Catholic Church, served as treasurer of the Tanglewood Volunteer Fire Department and member of the VFW Post 6525.

He enjoyed starting small businesses including selling portable buildings, preparing income taxes, Gonzo’s Tamales, S&E Rentals, Tanglewood Grocery, catering and selling watermelons, vegetables and cords of wood from his farm.

He assisted families in becoming first-time homeowners and assisted non-profit organizations with their fundraisers by selling tamales, BBQ chicken plates and beans, and homemade flour tortillas.

He was a dedicated fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Rangers and Rockdale Tigers.

His favorite past times were spending time with family, playing the accordion, listening to Mexican music, watching Mexican movies, dancing, making pit BBQ, canning vegetables, making homemade wine and capirotada, butchering and smoking ham, bacon and sausage, and giving tours of his farm.

He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers- Militon, Domingo, Antonio “Tony”, Zacharias “Zac”, Angel, Alberto “Sonny” and Liborio “Lobo”; and two sisters, Enedina “Dina” and Rosa “Chita.”

Survivors are his wife, Eleanor Gonzales of Rockdale; five daughters, Diana Gonzales Worthen (Shannon) of Springdale, Arkansas, Lydia Gonzales Andrade (Moises) of Kilgore, Helen Flores (Lupe) of Temple, Maria Tovar of Rockdale and Linda Gonzales-Onofre (Alejandro) of Longview; two brothers, Reyes “Ray” Gonzales of Pflugerville and Jose “Joe” F. Gonzales (Mercedes) of San Antonio; two sisters, Rosario “Chayo” Maldonado (Armando) of Wimberly and Concepcion “Connie” Villarreal of Gulf Breeze, Florida; 16 grandchildren, Veronica Green (Willie), Steven Flores (Karen), Elizabeth Shafer (Will), Jennifer Wells, Jon Woodbridge, Comilino “Reno” Yanes (Jessica), Christopher “Critter” Yanes (Jackie), Laticia Olivarez (Carlos), Connie Flores, Santos Gonzales (Selene), Laura Worthen, Eleanor Essary (Samuel), Lindsey Magedoff, Alejandro Onofre Jr., Antonio Onofre and Nicolas Onofre; also, 28 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Pallbearers include Steven Flores, Santos Gonzales, Christopher “Critter” Yanes, Laura Worthen, Alejandro Onofre Jr. and Zavion Burgess.

Honorary pallbearers are Reyes “Ray” Gonzales, Jose “Joe” F. Gonzales, Rudy Gutierrez, Bill Gonzales, Chris Gonzales and Richard Gonzales.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, with rosary at 6 p.m. at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. On Thursday, Jan. 4, visitation will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home and mass will be at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Giddings with Father Miguel Duarte officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Giddings American Legion York Post 276 will immediately follow at Giddings City Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in memory of Santos Gonzales to Holy Family Catholic Church CCD Classes, P.O. Box 541, Lexington, TX 78947; Lee County Texas Veterans Association, P.O. Box 325, Giddings, TX 78942; or the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Arrangements by Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.