Ventura H. "Benny" Rodriguez of D'Hanis passed away Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026, just months before he would have celebrated his 100th birthday.

Born July 13, 1926, in D'Hanis, he was the son of Jose Carlos and Agustina Hernandez Rodriguez.

Benny is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Elida Del Toro Rodriguez; his children, Shirley Ann, Melissa, Sylvia Jean, Jacqueline and Steven; and his siblings, Micaela, Maria H., Virginia, Crescencio "Chris", Torivio, Trinidad "Ted", Louis, Pete, Manuel and Eugene Rodriguez, Eulelia Skipworth and Maria Rivas.

He is survived by his wife, Odette Del Carmen Rodriguez; sisters, Olga "Mike" Spotswood (Rogers) and Maria Socorro "Soco" Musquez (Ben); and brother, Gilberto "Butch" Rodriguez.

At age 18, Benny enlisted in the U.S. Army and served two years during WWII. He continued serving his country in Civil Service and retired as maintenance inspector at Lackland AFB. He also owned and operated Veteran's Bar in D'Hanis.

He was honorable, respectful, generous and a gentleman. He would visit with everyone, was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need, and always had a coin or two for any child he met. People loved him back. After a visit to Chile, he once remarked, "everybody treated me like a king."

A Mexican food aficionado, he would often pause when served and comment to the server, "This reminds me of my Mom." And any lady who wanted to repay his kindness would hear, "I never let a lady pay for my food."

In 2008 he and Odette Del Carmen were married in a civil ceremony. On Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, Benny and "Baby" repeated their vows before God and the Catholic church, at the Legend Oaks West Rehabilitation Center in San Antonio where he was residing.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Guinn-Horger Chapel, pausing for recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30  a.m., Saturday, Mar. 21, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, D'Hanis, followed by interment at San Francisco Cemetery.