Obituary for Joventina Rodriguez Gonzales
On December 24, 2018 Joventina Rodriguez Gonzales, 92 of San Antonio, Texas went to be with her Lord and Savior. Joventina was born on September 6, 1926 in Stockdale to Vicente Rodriguez and Conception (Vela) Rodriguez whom have preceded her in death along with her husband, T.K. Gonzales, 3 brothers, and 7 sisters. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Lucia Vallejo (Johnny), Adelita Cantu (John), Celestine Gonzales, Jovonne Gonzales, and Felicia Gonzales; sons, John Gonzales and Louis Gonzales; sister, Belen Denecamp; as well as numerous other loving family and friends.
Willie's youth reflected life of share cropping families. Upon graduating Stockdale High in 1944, Willie accepted a Draughon’s Business College recruitment opportunity: for tuition of $250, a business school education, room and board at Fort Sam Houston, and guaranteed job placement. In a profoundly forward-thinking move, her family allowed Willie to take that bus to San Antonio, and thus began a journey of more than just miles. This was U.S. History in the making, as the war-related labor shortage brought women into the work force that might not have been there otherwise. The Greatest Generation gained one more member.
Willie was placed at a downtown office job. In June of 1945, she met Lonzo “TK” Gonzales. Thousands of other GI’s returned stateside after Germany surrendered in May. Awaiting orders to the Pacific, TK was shopping for a “good bye” gift for his mother, but many stores were closed. While strolling the River Walk, he came upon a country girl on a bench and he asked to sit down. She replied “it’s a free country” but scooted over to make room for him. All of a sudden, horns were honking and folks were cheering in the streets “The War Is Over, It’s Finally Over!” Then it made sense why stores were closing early, news was slowly spreading: Japan had surrendered, the date was August 14, 1945. With that sense of celebration, TK asked Willie out that night, and the rest is Gonzales Family history.
They courted for a few years, while TK and his brother, Raymond, opened Gonzales Garage. Willie and TK were married on April 10, 1949. They loved and raised 7 children and spent their entire married life in San Antonio.
A visitation will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019, 11:00am-12:00pm, at Finch Funeral Chapel in Stockdale, Texas.
FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday, January 4, 2019
12:00pm
Finch Funeral Chapel, Stockdale
Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Stockdale. Chaplain Robbie Vojvodich will officiate.
Rather than flowers, donations may be made in Joventina’s name to
SNAP – Spay Neuter Assistance Program in San Antonio
https://www.snapus.org/crisis18/
Animal Care Services in San Antonio
https://ebiz.sanantonio.gov/acsdonations/default.aspx
Animal Defense League of San Antonio
https://adltexas.org/donate/tributes-bequests/
San Antonio Humane Society
https://sahumane.org/donate
Willie's youth reflected life of share cropping families. Upon graduating Stockdale High in 1944, Willie accepted a Draughon’s Business College recruitment opportunity: for tuition of $250, a business school education, room and board at Fort Sam Houston, and guaranteed job placement. In a profoundly forward-thinking move, her family allowed Willie to take that bus to San Antonio, and thus began a journey of more than just miles. This was U.S. History in the making, as the war-related labor shortage brought women into the work force that might not have been there otherwise. The Greatest Generation gained one more member.
Willie was placed at a downtown office job. In June of 1945, she met Lonzo “TK” Gonzales. Thousands of other GI’s returned stateside after Germany surrendered in May. Awaiting orders to the Pacific, TK was shopping for a “good bye” gift for his mother, but many stores were closed. While strolling the River Walk, he came upon a country girl on a bench and he asked to sit down. She replied “it’s a free country” but scooted over to make room for him. All of a sudden, horns were honking and folks were cheering in the streets “The War Is Over, It’s Finally Over!” Then it made sense why stores were closing early, news was slowly spreading: Japan had surrendered, the date was August 14, 1945. With that sense of celebration, TK asked Willie out that night, and the rest is Gonzales Family history.
They courted for a few years, while TK and his brother, Raymond, opened Gonzales Garage. Willie and TK were married on April 10, 1949. They loved and raised 7 children and spent their entire married life in San Antonio.
A visitation will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019, 11:00am-12:00pm, at Finch Funeral Chapel in Stockdale, Texas.
FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday, January 4, 2019
12:00pm
Finch Funeral Chapel, Stockdale
Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Stockdale. Chaplain Robbie Vojvodich will officiate.
Rather than flowers, donations may be made in Joventina’s name to
SNAP – Spay Neuter Assistance Program in San Antonio
https://www.snapus.org/crisis18/
Animal Care Services in San Antonio
https://ebiz.sanantonio.gov/acsdonations/default.aspx
Animal Defense League of San Antonio
https://adltexas.org/donate/tributes-bequests/
San Antonio Humane Society
https://sahumane.org/donate