Simon Biera Rodriquez

With hearts full of love and gratitude, we honor the life of Simon Biera Rodriquez, who passed away peacefully with his hands being held in prayerful adoration, by his daughter Nina and his son Dickie, in the comfort of his home of over 60 years. Simon departed on the wings of angels to his eternal home of peace and salvation, prepared by his wife Lupe, with our heavenly Father. “Amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)

Simon was born on October 28, 1930, to Pablo and Virginia Rodriguez in Knickerbocker, Texas but he considered Ballinger, Texas, his lifelong hometown. Simon was a man of humility, honor, humor, heart and lived a life devoted to God, his family, his community and his country.

Simon Biera Rodriquez, was known by many names. To his wife Guadalupe (Ruby Jean) and their many fans of their radio program, he was affectionately known as El Feo Simon. To many he was known as Mr. Rodriquez. To his friends, he was known as Compadre and Simon. To Tyler, he was known as The Bogeyman. To Tencha and Trisha, he was known as Pasote. To his many godchildren he was known as Padrino. To Kenny, Simon and Frankie he was known as dad. To Maggie, Nick and other grandkids, he was known as Grandpa. To Aunt Linda and his deceased siblings Emilia Patino, Eufemia Peña, Rosa Rodriguez, and Augustine Rodriguez whom he now joins in eternal peace, he was known as brother and hermano. To Eva and Frank, he was known as Pops. To some of his nephews and nieces like Melissa, he was known as Uncle Simon. To other nephews and nieces like Ticia and Eugene, he was known as Tío. To Dickie, when he would joke around with him, he was known as Don Simón…To Clare Guadalupe, Richard Simon, Richard (Dickie), and Diane (Dee Dee) whose unconditional love for him left a hole in our heart so big, it will never be fully filled…to us he was simply known as Papa…but most dear to our Papa’s heart…to Nina, with unconditional love, compassion and affection they deeply held for each other, to his fighting last breath, he was known as “My Daddy.”

As a young child in elementary school and through the 8th grade, Simon traveled the great state of Texas from the Panhandle to South Texas with his parents, brothers and sisters picking bags of cotton daily in support of their family.

As a young adult Simon served his country bravely, drafted at the age of 22 to serve in the Korean War. As part of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th “Thunderbirds” Infantry Division, one of only two National Guard divisions deployed to the Korean Peninsula during the war, Simon rose to the rank of Corporal and was team leader for an 81mm mortar team in support of a rifle company on the front line. Simon was awarded the Infantry Combat Badge, the U.N. Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal. He was a member of the Ballinger V.F.W. 8119. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Thunderbirds participated “in four campaigns…and in defensive actions…in sectors near Pork Chop Hill, Old Baldy and Heartbreak Ridge which the 45th knew well.”

After his service, Simon returned home and began his career with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) in 1953, where he worked for 40 years until he retired in September 1993.

While working for TXDOT, Simon became a familiar and beloved presence in Ballinger where he met his wife, Guadalupe. Lupe was born on May 15, 1937, in Ballinger, Texas. A day vividly recalled by Simon, as he walked past her home with his mother after school, when she informed him a baby girl was born that day. Through the subsequent years, Simon unknowingly passed by his future wife’s home many times after her birth. Their bond grew over the years and blossomed into a lifelong love story. They celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on June 16, 1955, and together they built a family rooted in love and laughter.

Simon's hard work led to him becoming a cherished voice on the airwaves of KRUN AM 1400 radio. There, alongside his beloved wife Guadalupe, Simon hosted a Spanish language music show where they affectionately nicknamed each other “La Chula Lupe” and “El Feo Simon” a true reflection of their love and playful spirit. La Hora Mexicana began as a 15-minute show, which grew to a 5 hour Sunday program they hosted for over 30 years.

Simon ran all aspects of their radio show from selling on air advertisements, to accounts receivables, to copywriting the spots to air and along with Lupe, they recorded the on air spots. For several years, Simon also worked past midnight at Brunson’s during cotton season, after getting off work from his TXDOT job. Between working at TXDOT and the radio station, Simon routinely worked 7 days a week for more than 30 years.

As part of Simon's love story with his departed wife, his heart broke greatly as his health began to deteriorate after Lupe’s passing. At this point Nina became his primary caregiver where with a servant's heart, she cared for her dad for the last 13 years of his life. Among the many caregivers who assisted Nina and Simon, for whom we sincerely owe a great deal of gratitude, there were some whose service came at a critical time. A time when Nina suffered a debilitating accident returning home for lunch, which required a lot of prayer, emotional support and physical therapy for Nina and Simon. Janie Lowe, Francis Gonzales, Mike and Laurie Belcher and Cindy Preacher were a blessing from God for the compassion, care and physical therapy they provided. More recently Christie Deaver and Kelli Plumley played board and bean bag tossing games with Simon in addition to his daily physical therapy.

In these last few weeks of Simon’s life, we are eternally grateful for Kelli’s caregiving which was above and beyond any job description or duty. Kelli frequently provided overnight care, support and late-night travel for emergency medical care and continues to be a source of strength and friendship to Nina and our family. Thank you…you have been our angel on earth during this very difficult and challenging time in our lives.

We would be remiss if we didn’t thank the nurses and nurse’s aide at Ballinger Home Health and Hospice for their affection and compassion they showed our dad…many who have known Simon and Nina for the last 12 years. No matter the time of day or night, when we needed them, they were there with compassion and comfort.

A devout Catholic, Simon was a proud Knight of Columbus, a Cursillista and a dedicated parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church, who served with the same quiet strength he brought to all things in life. A Catholic mass for Simon will be held at St. Mary’s where we encourage everyone attending to wear either of Simon’s favorite colors, which are blue and red.

He took joy in simple acts of service, such as cleaning the church hall and preparing coffee after mass, always with a warm smile and a kind word for everyone. Some acts of kindness and love were in unseen hours of Simon going to Elm Creek with empty gallon milk jugs to get water for Lupe’s treasured roses during the 1990s drought; when the lake was running dry and outdoor watering was prohibited, which he did twice weekly for several years. Simon will be remembered for his sense of humor, his unwavering devotion to his family, and the joy he brought into every room. His laughter was contagious, his stories unforgettable and his heart immeasurable.

Dad’s (Papa’s) physical and spiritual beauty, along with his devotion to family is indelibly etched in the hearts of his grateful children and grandchildren, Nina Rodriquez of Ballinger, Texas; Dickie and his wife…Papa’s second daughter Dee Dee of Austin, Texas and their children Clare Guadalupe and Richard Simon; Kenneth and wife Beverly of Austin, Texas and his children Maggie Ortega (husband Hector) of Kyle, Texas and their son Anthony, and Nicholas of Austin; Frankie and his wife Camille of Richmond, Texas and their children Trisha (daughter of Tencha) of Austin, Celani of Stafford, Texas, Silas and wife Hannah of Richmond, Alexandria of Richmond, Zacharia of Austin and Matthew (preceded in passing); and Simon of Edinburg, Texas.

Papa, we love you dearly, your generosity, kind spirit, and never-ending joy that you brought into our lives will always be near our hearts. So dearly we will miss the smiles you brought to our faces and the way your laughter was contagious. The love you gave so freely and the memories that will forever warm our hearts will not be forgotten. Papa, even though our journey has parted ways in body...it is not a goodbye...but until we embrace again.