Rodolfo "Rudy" Rivera

Rodolfo “Rudy” Rivera, 97, of Belton, sadly passed away Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Visitation will be from 6-7 pm on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton with Rosary to follow at 7pm.

Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Belton, at 2pm on Friday, May 31, 2024.  Burial to follow at North Belton Cemetery.

Rodolfo “Rudy” Rivera was born on October 3, 1926, to Reyes Rivera and Leonor Leonides Montano Rivera in El Paso, Texas.

Rudy grew up in Laredo, Texas and graduated from Raymond & Tirza Martin Senior High School in 1945.  He enlisted in the Air Force and served from 1946-49.  He attended the Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas (now known as Texas A&M University) and graduated in 1953 with a degree of Bachelor of Business Administration.

On November 24, 1956, he married the love of his life, Maria De la Luz “Lucy” Cisneros.  They moved to San Antonio and lived there until 1974 when they moved to Belton.

Rudy was a very active member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Belton.  He was one of the first Lectors for the Spanish Mass, helped organize the first church festival, helped establish the first Spanish choir, and gave guitar lessons to the youth of the church community.  He also taught religious education in surrounding Bell County areas for many years.  Rudy was a member of the Knights of Columbus, served on the church council and other various church groups.  He was a Cursillista.  He also helped establish Our Lady of San Juan, St. Stephen and St. Matthew Catholic Missions.

He retired from the Texas Employment Commission in 1995.

Rudy is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Agripina Sandoval and his loving wife Lucy.

Survivors include a son, David C. Rivera of Missouri, two daughters Esther A. Rivera Lopez of Belton,  Sandra Alvarado and husband Carlos of Belton, ten grandchildren Carlos Lopez & Shelley, David A. Rivera & Lauren, Vanessa Rivera & Juan, Marisol Garcia & Robert, Andrea Mendez & Ricardo, Danielle Joly & Marc, Victor Lopez, Alejandro Lopez, Samantha Rivera & Dee, Leticia Bonilla & Carlos, and fifteen great grandchildren, Cody, Kailey, Michael, Aiden, Angel, Ezekiel, Micah, Jasmine, Antonio, Floreina, Remy, Alahni, Amelia, Ryker, and Esmeralda.

Rudy will forever be remembered as the life of the party, loved to sing & dance and put a smile on everyone’s face.