Raul Gonzalez Obituary (1929 - 2017)

Raul Margarito Gonzalez, 87, entered into the Lord's presence on Sunday, February 19, 2017 at the Silverado Memory Care Center in Onion Creek. Born just prior to the Great Depression on May 18, 1929 to Catarino and Genoveva (Herrera) Gonzalez in Mercedes, TX, Raul was the fourth of five sons (after Roberto, Catarino, Valdemar, and before Rodolfo) and elder brother to sister Graciela, and the last of his siblings to enter into grace. He moved with his family to Harlingen, TX at the age of 5, where he grew up, worked in his father's business (Gonzalez Grocery) part-time and attended school, graduating with the class of 1947 from Harlingen High School, where he achieved induction into the National Honor Society, played catcher on the baseball team, and forward on the varsity basketball team, which reached the 16-AA district championship during his senior year. Also during his senior year, he received a scholarship for Latin American students to attend the University of Texas at Austin to study architecture for a year, after which he worked for an aunt and uncle in their grocery and retail business. In August 1950, Raul enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was trained as a radar operator at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS and served stateside at Charleston AFB, SC, as well as Otis AFB in Cape Cod, MA, from where he was honorably discharged July 1954 with the rank of Staff Sergeant, having received a Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. In September 1954, he re-enrolled and attended the University of Texas on the GI Bill to study accounting, but upon the untimely passing of his father Catarino in March 1956, interrupted his studies once more to return to Harlingen to liquidate the family grocery while he attended Texas Southmost College part-time. He then returned to finish studies in Austin, receiving his BA in Accounting in May 1958. Raul remained based in Austin after graduating, and began working at the Texas State Auditor's office traveling throughout the state to review the accounts of state offices and schools. On Easter 1959, he traveled to Monterrey and met his wife-to-be Herlinda Torres at church (Iglesia Nacional El Buen Pastor), whom he courted by letters written in Spanish and postcards in English, and visits over extended holidays. They married on August 5, 1960, settled in Austin, and had three sons: Saul Eduardo (Nov. 15, 1961), Raul Arturo (Jul. 18, 1965) and Rodolfo Andres (Jul 28, 1970). He worked for the State Auditor's Office until his early retirement in May 1987, after which he served as a consultant for a handful of state agencies. Raul was an active member of El Buen Pastor Presbyterian Church, and a deacon and a member of the session for several terms. He served as church treasurer from 1963-2013, as well as for Manos de Cristo and El Buen Pastor Child Development Center. He was an avid fan of Texas Longhorns sports events, possessed an inquisitive hunger to keep up with current events and news, delighted in doing crossword puzzles, had a green thumb for cultivating beautiful roses, enjoyed renovating, creating and working with wood, took advantage of every opportunity to photograph the people he loved, and held a special place in his heart for animals and children. The Gonzalez family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Silverado for their professionalism and attentive care. Raul is survived by Herlinda, his wife of 56 years; sons Saul Eduardo, Raul Arturo and Rodolfo Andres; daughters-in-law Cherish Close and Anangela Garcia; grandchildren Adam Kane, Athena Avery, Thrace Andres, Trinity Victoria, Verity Elizabeth, and Gabriel Eduardo; and many cousins, nephews and nieces. The celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at Mission Funeral Home Serenity Chapel, 6204 South 1st St. in Austin, TX, with visitation at 9:00 and funeral services at 11:00. Burial will take place at Onion Creek Memorial Park, 11610 Chapel Lane. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the El Buen Pastor Child Development Center. "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21)