Tommie L. Rodriguez, aged 72 years, passed away at Hazel Hawkins
Memorial Hospital on Monday March 28.
Tommie L. Rodriguez, aged 72 years, passed away at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital on Monday March 28.
A native of Guadalupe, California, Tommie lived in San Benito County all his life. He was a graduate of San Benito High School and studied to be a professional upholsterer at Laney Junior College in Oakland. He owned and operated Rodriguez Interiors in Hollister for many years and enjoyed practicing his talents whenever he had a chance. He also was a Seamer Mechanic in the Canning Industry at San Benito & Gilroy Foods from 1976 until 1989 when he retired.
Tommie and his family had resided in Tres Pinos for a period of 26 years before moving to Hollister. “His heart was always in Tres Pinos,” said his wife Connie. Mr. Rodriguez served as a volunteer fireman for the Tres Pinos Fire Department for many years. He also served on the Tres Pinos School Board and was a 4-H Leader in Tres Pinos. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Sacred Heart Church, Local 890 International Brotherhood Of Teamsters of Salinas.
Tommie was a Korean War Veteran, serving with the U.S. Army and was proud when he received a plaque and medal two years ago honoring him for his service to his country. He was proud to be a member of Hollister VFW Post 9242.
Tommie loved working on projects around the house, going on short trips which included watching Oakland A’s games. “He never missed watching an A’s game on TV,” said his family. He also enjoyed making his own wines from grapes and other fruit – a skill he developed for years.
Besides his wife Consuelo “Connie” Rodriguez, Tommie is survived by his children and their spouses, Dolores Dribnak and husband, Andrew, of Fremont, Basil Rodriguez and wife, Leticia, of Tres Pinos, Julie Shaw and husband, Bill, of Hollister, and Tim Rodriguez and wife, Jennifer, of Hollister; ten grandchildren; his sister Trini Gonzalez and husband, Nacho, of Hollister; and brother Manuel Rodriguez and spouse, Grace, of Hollister; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Frank Rodriguez and Frank’s wife Lola.
Friends are invited to a Vigil Service at 7pm on Wednesday March 30 at the chapel of the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home, 870 San Benito St. Family and friends will leave the mortuary at 9:30am on Thursday to go to Sacred Heart Church for a Mass of the Resurrection beginning at 10am. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Veterans Section. Friends may visit at the mortuary today beginning noon.
Memorials are preferred to Jovenes De Antano c/o the mortuary chapel.
