Gus Rodriguez, SGM, USArmy, Retired

Once upon a time, nestled in the hills of Rock Springs Wyoming, lived Antonio, a sheep rancher and his wife, Juanita, with their four small children. They didn’t know it then but their quiet life was about to change forever. On September 8^th, 1934 a little bundle floated down from heaven to join this rancher and his family. They named him Gustavo, and at first nothing was any different so life went on as usual on the ranch.  At the age of three he started doing the family business by going up into the hills, as a shepherd, with his father. As he grew he was entrusted with the task of sheering the sheep. This is where he gained the love for lamb chops and he would often remind me that he did not need any burnt offerings. When he was eight years old he worked in the local bowling alley setting up the pins by hand for the bowlers. He would often remind our children that he started working hard at an early age. When he was at the age to go to school he would have to go over number one hill. At first, he was like a tumble weed tumbling over the hill but as the years progressed this tumble weed turned into a little tornado often wrestling with oil workers in the oil fields. This led him to wrestle and box in junior and senior High school, where he was a wrestling state champion for three years, his freshman, sophomore, and junior year. Having two older brothers who served in the military, one in WWII and both serving in Korea, he decided to leave school his senior year, to work in the Naval Yards in Nevada, not knowing what his future would hold.  In 1958, he joined the U.S. Army, which sent him to many places around the world. When Gus enlisted, he decided to become a medic as well as box and wrestle for the Army. When I first met him, was in the summer of 1965 at the Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, PA. I worked in the Women’s Ward while he worked on the floor below in Intensive Care. We dated for a short time before being married on March 14^th, 1966 in Elkton, MD. With both of us coming from two different cultures, his being Spanish and Italian and mine from a Scotch, Dutch and English, needless to say, this marriage was filled with fireworks of the Fourth of July combined with the stubbornness of a bull. After being married for only a few months, he was sent on his first tour to Vietnam. During his first tour to Vietnam our first child Selina was born in December 1966, then during his second tour to Vietnam our second child Todd was born in July 1969. On his second tour as he was leaving to come home, he passed his brother, Richards plane as it was arriving. It was as if they were trading places in the fight for the freedom of others. In 1972 our little family moved to Germany, where we stayed for the next three years. We then left Germany and went to Fort Dix only living there for one year before packing up and moving back to Fort Meade. In January of 1978, we received a two for one package with our twins, Mark and Jennifer, being born. In July 1981, we moved to Hilliard, OH, where he became a Medical NCO/ Senior Army Enlisted Advisor and Patient Administration Specialist to the Ohio Army National Guard. After thirty years in the Army, he took of his black boots off and hung up his uniform retiring in November 1988, rising to the Rank of Sergeant Major.  After his retirement, his free time was spent working out in the early morning and out in nature, He loved to fish, bird watch and flowers. We would often go to the Metro Parks and just sit listening to the nature around us. He loved gymnastics, the Olympics, history. He loved art in its many forms, so we would often be at the Columbus Museum of Art, or at the Ohio or Palace Theatres watching the Columbus Symphony perform or an opera, or a ballet. In his own way he was an Artist, often sketching drawing around the house and for his neighbors’ birthdays he would often make birthday posters and place it at the end of their driveways, and calling the families and singing Happy birthday to them. He was a veracious reader he collected books on all sorts of topics, he never stopped learning. Every Saturday in the fall was spent watching Ohio State Football, he loved the Buckeyes, Go Bucks! At the end he would be on his porch, always with his white shirt and bow tie, shouting out to his neighbors as they passed by.  Gus was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on September 16, 2017 and passed on to the Spirit world one year later. On Saturday, September 8^th he celebrated his eighty-fourth birthday with his family. Almost a week later he was ordained an Elder with the Melchizedek Priesthood on September 14, 2018. Gus was called home on Saturday, September 15^th. It was his time, he had other places to go and things to learn, in the Spirit World with Prophets and Apostles. He is now reuniting with family who have gone before and preparing a place for his loved ones to join him one day, when their time for learning and service is through here on earth.

In addition to his parents Antonio and Juanita, Gus was preceded in death by his brothers: Jesse “Jay” and his wife Ruby Rivera Rodriguez, Homer Rodriguez, and Richard Rodriguez and his brother-in-law Les Skiles. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Bell Bentley Rodriguez; brother Anthony “Tony” Rodriguez, sisters Julia Rodriguez Skiles and Ella Rodriguez (Silas “Tiny”) Yeager, sisters-in-law Bessie Martinez Rodriguez and Maria Guidolin Rodriguez; his children and their spouses: Todd & Bente (Heiselt) Rodriguez, Mark & Jennifer (Diamante) Rodriguez, Selina Rodriguez (Todd) Delahanty, and Jennifer Rodriguez (Mark) Vaughn; his adored grandchildren: Joshua Donald Carter & Laura Childs, Shilo Carter & Brandon Steede, Sierra Carter & Cody Box, Dexter Rodriguez & Jessica (Truman) Rodriguez, Preston Rodriguez, Madison Rodriguez, Lacy Rodriguez, Mason Rodriguez, Carter Rodriguez, Creed Rodriguez, Kennedy Rodriguez, Emiline Rodriguez, Kent Rodriguez, Charles Rodriguez, Whitney Rodriguez, Josie Rodriguez, Jack Rodriguez, Jena Rodriguez, Carter Allen Diamante Rodriguez, Aurora Jessica Diamante Rodriguez, Micayla Nicole Rodriguez, Austin Alexander Rodriguez and Camden Robert Vaughn; his great-grandkids: Leyla Steede, Callie Steede, Brooklyn Box and Bodie Box; along with an abundance of terrific nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, here and beyond….Families are Forever! Family will receive friends from 9:00a.m.-10:30a.m. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 at the TIDD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, OH 43026 (614)-876-1722. Military Graveside Service with Honors will be conducted at 11:00a.m. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 at WESLEY CHAPEL CEMETERY, 3225 Dublin Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026. Pallbearers will be Todd Rodriguez, Mark Rodriguez, Austin Alexander Rodriguez, Mason Rodriguez, Carter Rodriguez, Camden Robert Vaughn, Carter Allen Diamante Rodriguez and Creed Rodriguez. In lieu of flowers, the Rodriguez Family wishes for Memorial Donations be made to National Church Residences and/or Life Care Alliance. National Church Residences’ nurses, aides & volunteers pulled us through this difficult time while offering us dignity, love and understanding. Special Bear Hugs to Chris, Starla, Michelle, Mel, Joanne, Diane & Susan. www.nationalchurchresidences.org/donate/hospice-services. Life Care Alliance understood our immediate daily needs. The ramp allowed us to continue enjoying the porch, sun & birds! www.lifecarealliance.org/donate/. We send a shout out to the Norwich Township Fire Department for all the trips to our home. We love your spirit, kindness and ever-willing attitude. Special thanks to Christine Leyshon for listening, reaching out to us and understanding. Also a shout out to Therapy Solutions for working with Hospice and bringing much needed equipment & supplies. Their staff showed compassion & respect during each visit. They also accept donations such as wheel chairs, etc. We appreciate all of our neighbors and friends for their love and support. We miss Gus and celebrate his spirit being free. The Rodriguez Family would love for you to share your special memories, times and experiences of Gus on this webpage where you may also send condolences to his family.