A husband, father and grandfather, Gonzalo Gonzales of Floydada marked his 93rd birthday a few weeks ago on April 1, 2025. A short 25 days later on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Jesus guided him home.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Floydada.
A rosary was recited at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at the Moore-Rose Funeral Home Chapel. Interment was at the Floydada Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose Funeral Home of Floydada.
Visitation with the family was at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Born in Ganado, Texas, to Pedro and Bernarda Gonzalez on April 1, 1932, he moved to Lockney, Texas, in the early 1960s, along with his brothers, sister and mother, whom he cared for until her death.
He met Julia Garcia, the daughter of migrant workers from Mission, Texas, while they were working in the Flomot area. The couple would sneak around and go to the movies in order to spend time together. On November 19, 1960, the two were married in Floydada. They marked their 64th wedding anniversary in November 2024.
He came to the West Texas area as a farm laborer. He then wore many other hats, working as an auto mechanic, as well as repairs on Waukesha irrigation motors, a Floyd County Reserve Deputy, an ambulance driver and mail carrier transporting mail from the Childress area to Lockney, before moving to Floydada to work in highway maintenance as a technician with the Texas Highway Department. He retired from TxDot in September 1993.
In their younger years, Gonzales would take the family on vacations to visit relatives in other cities and states but always made sure to take the kids to an enjoyable place, including the Great Lakes, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Disneyland.
After retirement, he and Julia continued to enjoy their excursions to Vegas, as well as other area casinos. And if you asked him how he did, there were smiles that you could read if it was a successful trip.
For several years, he also enjoyed his daily walks down Second Street. The family would always hear, “We saw your dad walking over by Brooks Oil” or “over by the car wash.” As for his vehicles, he kept them clean and he kept them tuned, doing a lot of his own maintenance work, as well as his own yard work up to about a year or so ago when his health started slowing him down.
He was, however, always determined to teach his kids to become good adults. He taught them how to work hard and care for what they had. In their opinion, despite whatever feelings may have been going on, they always got past it. “Daddy,” “Pops,” “Dad,” “Welo” was a good one. He took care of everyone and tried to stay in contact with extended family as needed.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Cosme, Lupe, Manuel and Mario Gonzales; one sister, Petra Cuellar; a grandson, Gene Pena; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife, Julia, of Floydada; a son, Adam and Angie Gonzales of Floydada; three daughters, Rosemary and Bill Rushing, Isabell Gonzales of Plainview, and Hilda and Valentine Garcia of Round Rock; six granddaughters, Aliana Gonzales and Ava Gonzales of Floydada, Nicole and Armando Estrada of Hutto, Valerie Garcia, Arlene Garcia and Becky and Jessica Garcia, all of Round Rock; four great-grandchildren, Daisy and Isabella Estrada of Hutto, Maya Serrano and Cristian DeLuna of Round Rock; and one sister, Connie Gomez of Plainview; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
Serving as pallbearers were Larry Galvan, Marcos de la Fuente, Gabe de la Fuente, Artemio Diaz, Javier de la Fuente, and Stoney Rivera.