Tributes

Ruben Abdon Ortiz Sr. passed away on February 26, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on December 26, 1947 in Mission, TX, to Antonia Reina and Abdon Ortiz. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 50 years, Martha G. Ortiz; children, Machelle, Ruben Jr., Monica, Myrea, Joseph; siblings, Isabell, Yolanda, Joe; grandchildren, Ruben III, Nadine, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, extended family, granddogs and grandcats. Family -was his life. Ruben was a graduate of Mission High School 1968 and Southwest Texas State University 2001 est. He worked for H-E-B, 38 years Warehouse Supervisor. He was self-employed running G.I. Garage Texas Vehicle Safety Inspection with his wife and children, where he ultimately retired after many years of proudly serving the South Side San Antonio Community. Ruben is remembered above all, for his full of life spirit, which came through in his fun humor, happy smile, his infinite heart, his immense love and adoration for his wife, and his starting his days with thanking the Lord for the new day. There will never be another like Ruben Abdon Ortiz, Sr. SERVICES Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 11:30am-12:00pm at Mission Park Funeral Chapels South. Burial Services will be at 1:30pm at San Jose Burial Park. Online guestbook and service viewing is available at www.missionparks.com in the Tributes section. Dad’s OBITUARY by Myrea & Jason Schmidt Friends, family, countrymen, lend me your ears. A great man has passed. A devoted husband, legendary father, loved uncle, primo to many, and friend to all. February 26, 2021 marks the day 73 year old Ruben Abdon Ortiz Sr. departed our earth and joined his heavenly Father to finally learn the secrets of the universe and have a long-anticipated meeting with the great minds who passed before him. You don’t know Ruben unless you can picture him as tall, dark, and handsome. He was 6’2”, a dignified Mexican-American man who wore a gray Stetson cowboy hat on occasion. His wife was the love of his life. He took every opportunity to fire up the dance floor whirling in perfect rhythm with his petite beautiful wife. His children enjoyed his unconditional love and thought-provoking conversations. Ruben was a hero to his children; a larger than life figure they are proud to call dad. Ruben loved the beauty of poetry and literature, the endless possibilities of science fiction, the life-affirming dignity of civil rights, and the freeing power of education. Ruben and Martha began their family dinner meals with the children reading and discussion of daily scripture. Ruben regaled his young children with Old English epic tale of Beowulf battling Grendel as after dinner table stories, raised them on the manna that is Shakespeare, and engaged in nightly political debates at the dinner table. Ruben was a devout Catholic who fulfilled a promesa to walk on his knees down the aisle of Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan Del Valles when God spared his beloved wife from cancer in 1996. Ruben devoted himself for several decades to St. Lawrence Catholic Church as a Knights of Columbus, Mass reader, Sunday school teacher, marriage mentor, and fundraising committee member for constructing the new hall. Ruben was not a one career type of man. He reinvented himself several times as he used his leadership skills and love of entrepreneurship to unlock multiple lifetimes of experience. Ruben embraced life and took great pride in working hard to support his family starting as a 5 year old picking cotton in the fertile fields of the Valley in Texas and with his family followed the crops to California; he was a boxer and kickboxer in his youth, before working his way up to become a respected H-E-B warehouse Supervisor, thrilled to be his children’s youth soccer Coach, captured beauty as a portrait photographer, was loved as a flea market vendor, and finally retired after several years as a car safety inspection business Jefe in South side San Antonio. Ruben made his family unbelievably proud when he fulfilled a lifelong dream and graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in Business Administration and Education. Ruben could always be counted on for wise counsel or a funny story. People left his company feeling good with a renewed purpose. He was known to embellish a story because bringing laughter and joy was always more important than boring details. Ruben always said that his legacy was his family. He spent his final days in the hospital with his wife and children on video calls listening to his adult children’s favorite childhood stories and recollections of all things dad said and loved down to his favorite songs and Star Trek. His last days on earth were spent listening to his family read his most loved poems, Beowulf, bible verses, and playing the passionate mariachi music that he felt resonate in his soul. The last mariachi song he asked to be played for him was “Dos Arbolitos” by Linda Rondstadt. Ruben is survived by his adored wife of 50 years, Martha G. Ortiz and his five children Machelle Dillon (Michiel), Ruben Ortiz Jr, Monica Ortiz (Family/Friends Chris Iverson and Honest Moyo), Myrea Schmidt (Jason), and Joseph Ortiz; beloved grandchildren Ruben Ortiz III and Nadine Ortiz; siblings Isabel Villarreal (Fermin), Yolanda Godsey (Rick), Joe Ortiz (Yolanda); in-laws Angie Gutierrez, Connie Rickman, Janie Solis, Manuel Garza (Oralia), Paula Medina, and Amalia Garza and many other loved cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends. Ruben is being embraced by his parents in heaven, Abdon Ortiz and Antonia Ortiz. Ruben would especially want to include his radiant Tía and second mother, Romana Ortiz Cortez (Sabino Cortez Sr.) who both passed on before him. May their eyes forever gaze lovingly from heaven over the Rancho where family and love bounded limitless. Ruben enjoyed family and loved being warmly welcomed into his wife’s loving family and is catching up with all of his in-laws awaiting him in Heaven. Ruben was preceded in death by his sister in-law Amelia Vasquez (Locario); Guadalupe Gutierrez ; Rick Rickman, and Paula Medina (Robert), and other cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends who were taken too soon. Love and laughter will mark their meeting as it did in his lifetime. Visitation will be Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 11:30 to 12:00 p.m. at Mission Park South. Interment to follow at San Jose Burial Park Cemetery (near the SE entrance area or Mission Rd/Cadmus St intersection) at approximately 1:30p.m. Further Service information for potential online viewing availability with be updated here when details arrive. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ruben Abdon Ortiz Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store. The family asks that people who loved Ruben please share their fondest memories on the memorial page. Stories from the different facets of his life are the greatest gift you can give his family as they mourn the loss of a huge influence on their lives.

Tributes

Ruben Abdon Ortiz Sr.

December 26, 1947 - February 26, 2021