Rafael Valdez Paz III, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2015. He was born in Laredo, Texas on May 15, 1946 and graduated from William Adams High School in Alice, TX in 1965.

He served in the US Marine Corp from January 6, 1966 to January 5, 1968 and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, an experience that affected him profoundly throughout his life. He received the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and a Rifle of Marksman Badge.

He lived in Austin, Texas for many years and was a big fan of the University of Texas Longhorns. He spent a week driving NASCAR race cars after winning a contest held by a cigarette company. He honored many other deceased veterans as a member of the United States Burial Association of Alice, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his father, Rafael Paz, Jr., and step-father, Benito Rodriguez Alcala.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores Gonzalez Paz; mother, Margarita Valdez Alcala; daughters, Margret Paz (Victor) Torres and Gloria Paz (David) Rodriguez; step-daughters, Refugia “Cookie” Barrera and Ann Ramirez; sister, Maria Dolores (Baltazar) Gonzalez; brothers, Benito Alcala, Jr., and Jose Wilfredo Alcala; and grandchildren: Marissa Paz, Michael-Rey Paz, Jizelle Torres, Andrea Rodriguez, and Sarah Rodriguez.

Services will be held at Trevino Funeral Home. His family will be receiving friends at Trevino Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2015; with a Rosary to begin at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Alice, Texas, on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Alice Cemetery on Martin Luther King Blvd.

Services are under the direction of Bobby Treviño. Condolences may be left at www.trevinofuneralhome.net.

Posted in the Alice Echo Obituaries on Monday, January 19, 2015 5:19 pm.