Raoul V. Rico
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Once upon a time there was a Boy born May 2nd, 1929 in the middle of a field 20 miles North of Corpus Christi, Texas where his Parents Guadalupe and Pedro Villarreal were weeding for a dollar a day with a short hoe so that the owner could sit in his porch while watching the worker stoop down to weed. If he wasn't stooping he wasn't working.
There was a Midwife in the group who assisted the Mother in the Birth. The Boy was the 5th of 6 sibling to be born and raise in Poverty. As the years pass during the Great Depression things got worse. There were no food stamps back then. There was a relief where they gave out free food but it was operated by Anglos who took the best to their homes and left the bug infested flour and oatmeal for the needy.
The older Brother who was head of the household would not allow free stuff. The Boy's father never drank, smoked or drove a Car and had hard times finding jobs. The older Brother joined CC Camp and when WW2 started he was drafted and sent to Europe to fight the War with General Patton for four straight years.
In the meantime the Boy held several non school hours jobs including a Paper route with no bike, pin boy at the bowling alley , milk hopper delivering milk and caddy at the Golf course. At age 15 the boy joined the Merchant Marine and made a trip to Europe to deliver oil to our fighting men. A year later he returned and joined the Navy at 16 years old lying about his age and he was assigned to an Air Group AKA Command Air Pacific and the boy was sent to Pearl Harbor, Maui, Wake Island and Guam, and at age 18 he was already a Military Veteran with the WW2 Victory Medal/ Two years college and a broken Marriage. Later he tried a stint in Hollywood but that didn't work either and after taking a break from the 2nd Marriage He applied for an opening as a Fed Air Marshal during the Hijackings of our Airlines.
The "Boy" was one of nine from a class of 60 to pass the two month rigorous test. However before the program started Nixon canceled the program. After hooking up with a European Corp for 7 years and adding a name to his present name the court screwed up and was left at that. Women change their names every time they get married.
Most of the early part of the Boy's life was to help his family survive the hard times. The older Brother came back from Europe and suffered a nervous breakdown and was in an asylum for over a year. His Doctor said that he was fighting the war again and that as soon as he finished that war he would snap out of it and he did and became a successful businessman. The younger Brother spent 3 years in Korea.
The "Boy" in this story is me, Raoul Villarreal Rico, I passed away Wednesday Feb 24 in the comfort of my home surrounded by loved ones.
Mi Vida fue un Camino Largo, Duro y Fuerte Pero Sabroso
This was written by Raoul on his 91st bday. Raoul was proceeded in death by his parents Pedro and Guadalupe Villarreal, his daughter Gloria V Kelly, and son Robert A Villarreal. Raoul is survived by his wonderful wife of 57 years Elva Vargas Villarreal, his sons, Ralph, James, and Jason and his daughter Laura. Raoul has 18 grandkids 17 great grandkids.
Services for viewing will be held Monday March 1st from 5-9pm at De Leon Funeral located at 700 E Expressway 83 Pharr Tx, 78577
Burial will be held Tuesday March 2nd at 11am at Rio Grande Veterans Cemetery located at 2520 Inspiration Rd, Mission Tx 78572