RENE ENRIQUE MALDONADO

Rene Enrique Maldonado of San Antonio passed away in his home, surrounded by his loving wife and children, on August 31, 2020.

He was born on October 21, 1941, on San Antonio's West Side, the 6th of 9 brothers and sisters born to Manuel and Inez Maldonado. The family moved to Helotes, Texas, when Rene was 7 years old, and Rene enjoyed a life of the outdoors, dipping in local swimming holes, playing baseball in open fields, and exploring hidden caves. As a youth, he excelled in sports, leading his little league team as a pitcher to the city championship.

He attended then-Northside HS, now Marshall HS, and enjoyed baseball, football, and track. Upon graduation in 1960, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served on the USS Lexington from 1960-1962. He enjoyed his time on the carrier, and in later years would bring his family to visit it in Corpus Christi, where it is docked, to share stories of his adventures. Upon returning to San Antonio after the Navy, he met Margarita Alvarez del Castillo of Laredo when she was performing as a dancer, and they married in 1964.

After various jobs, Rene began his 37-year career at Kelly AFB, first as a mechanic on the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy carrier airplane, then alongside engineers in his expertise. Because the family lived in the air path to the base, the giant C-5 flew low and loud over the family's home, so often that the family got used to it, even though the rumble and thunder of it would scare visitors.

Rene and Margarita enjoyed watching their four children grow, play sports, and perform, and in the 1980s they were a fixture at most Holmes High School football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball games, as well as track meets. Rene himself enjoyed coaching his kids and many others through various recreation leagues across town. They were proud to have seen all four of their kids graduate college and earn advanced degrees.

Rene retired in 2000 shortly after his wife did, and they enjoyed traveling, visiting their grandchildren, crashing weddings to dance with their compadres, and "visiting cousins" to play the slots. His kids always came first, and he was always generous to his family, including his mother-in-law, who lived in the family home and helped raise the children. He was deeply loved and respected for his generosity, humor, and deep faith.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Margarita A. del Castillo Maldonado of San Antonio and their children, Rene H. Maldonado, Jr. and wife April; Margarita I. Maldonado; Monica M. Williams and husband Norwood; and Rebecca M. Dacke and husband Steve; as well as his grandchildren Torie Marquez and husband, Chris; Averie Maldonado; Trey Maldonado and wife Mary; Samuel Williams; Olivia Williams; and Sophia Dacke; daughter-in-law Pamela Maldonado; and brother Bert Maldonado. Rene was inurned at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on July 25, 2021.