Abel Rodriguez

Abel Rodriguez, 79, a longtime resident of Brookshire, Texas, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 2021, surrounded by his family.

Abel was born May 11, 1941, the son of Gabriel and Nasaria (Flores) Rodriguez. On December 27, 1961, Abel was united in marriage to Bisenta Lemos. Abel was self-employed as a residential and commercial contract painter for many years. He was known throughout his career as a carpenter and an expert wood stainer. His career spanned across the Houston Metroplex and surrounding areas. Abel had a passion for baseball. He was a Big Reds and Cleveland Indians fan. His passion led him to a career of coaching Brookshire Little League teams as well as umpiring games for many years. This passion for baseball also led him to the recruitment of the Astros minor league team, though he turned it down to stay with his family.

Abel was also a talented musician and singer. He was known throughout the local community to perform at Brookshire’s Cinco de Mayo and 4 ^th of July celebrations. Abel’s music career consisted of many bands, he was known to perform and play guitar with Tony Rivera’s Orchestra in Houston, Los Dominantes Houston Metroplex, and Abel and the Good Time Band Houston Metroplex. Abel’s bands were known to be the opening act for Freddie Fender, when he was up and coming. His bands also performed at the Houston International Festival for many years.

Throughout his lifetime, Abel was also an avid fisherman. Traveling for baseball games and music gigs led to him finding great fishing spots throughout the entire state of Texas. Bait was never needed when he fished because he had an uncanny knack for snag fishing. With a fishing pole strung with line, weight, and hook knotted at the end, he could catch fish by dragging his line until he felt it come across a fish, jerking hard on the pole to snag the hook into an unknown part of the fish, all while quickly reeling it in before he lost his catch.

He is survived by his daughters: Ruth Rodriquez of Brookshire, Jo Ann Rodriguez Booth and her husband, Gary, of Huntington Beach, CA, Patricia Rodriguez Rochon and her husband, Steven, of Highland, CA, Lisa Rodriguez Moore and her husband, Richard, of Dallas, and Abel Rodriguez, III and her husband, Chad Shepard, of Katy; son: Abel Gabriel Rodriguez and his wife, Michelle, of Spring; grandchildren: Amanda Moore, Alex Rodriguez, Nicholas Rodriguez, Elizabeth Rochon, Sabrina Rochon, Joseph Rochon, and Michelle Rochon; four great-grandchildren; brother: Angelo Rodriguez and his wife, Gloria, of Galveston; sisters: Eva Lemos of Brookshire and Emma Macias and her husband, Jimmy, of Humble; and numerous other family members and friends.

Abel is preceded in death by his wife: Bisenta Rodriguez; parents: Gabriel and Nasaria Rodriguez; sister: Ester Garza; and brothers: Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Rodriguez, Jr.