Mr. Michael Rodarte

Ward Wilson Funeral Home and Crematory

Viewed: 2101

Posted by: Ward Wilson
Date: Jan 14 2017 2:22 PM

Michael Francis Rodarte, age 83, of Daleville passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2017.

                   

A native of San Antonio, TX and the eldest of ten children, Michael was born February 26, 1933 to the late Pablo and Julia Fuentes Rodarte. He was educated at the University of St. Louis and US Air Force Institute of Technology where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

 

He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 and served at Patrick AFB (MATADOR, SNARK, BOMARC, LARK) in Florida, Randolph AFB (B-36) in Texas, Wright Air Development Center (Wind Tunnels) in Dayton, Ohio, Telecommunications HQB, USEUCOM in Paris, France, and Instrumentation Systems at Eglin AFB, in Florida.

 

Upon his honorable discharge from the USAF in 1961, he then began his 30 year aerospace career with Douglas Aircraft working on B-52 and SKYBOLT programs. In the fledgling missile industry and in the span of 6 years, he proudly led his Launch Teams on the THOR, DELTA programs for McDonnell Douglas. He supported missile launch testing from the Johnston Island Atoll in the Pacific. At Cape Canaveral he supported the Gemini Space program from a Logistics capacity. He retired from McDonnell Douglas in 1989 where he served as Marketing Manager for the South East Area which eventually led him and his wife to Dothan, AL. He completed his aerospace career on rotor craft vehicles at Ft. Rucker, Alabama.

 

Just for fun, Michael designed a 5,000 sq ft, 3-story Victorian home in Daleville and then built it with his loving wife Bonnie. During his transition from retirement, he owned and operated a small construction remodeling business. In his spare time he was deeply entertained and devoted to his loving cats, Tillie, Missy, Ruffy, Scampi, Rascal and Tut, and dogs Stanley and Riley.

 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Rivas Rodarte; his wife, Bonnie B Shepherd Rodarte; his brothers, John Rodarte and Manuel Rodarte; his sister, Marie G Rodarte; his sons, Robert Anthony Rodarte, Raymond Andrew Rodarte, and Martin C Rodarte; and his granddaughter, Michele Marie Rodarte.

 

Michael is survived by his daughters, Marie Juliana (Mike) Arshop, Cerritos, CA, Miriam Elizabeth Rodarte, Daleville, AL, Ellen Scudder, Albuquerque, NM, Rebecca Shepherd (Gary Keitel) Hartford, AL; her son, Paul Michael (Rachelle) Rodarte, Knoxville, TN; her grandchildren, Cris Hardy, Las Vegas, NV, Michael James (Kristy) Rodarte, Denver, CO, Roxanne Edwards, Houston, TX, Rosanna Rodarte, Bonnie Rodarte, Tucson, AZ, Brianna (Terry) Clayton, San Francisco, CA, and Ashley J Rodarte, Savannah, GA; eleven great-grandchildren including Laura and Cassandra Cunningham, Houston, TX; five brothers, Pable, Frank, Larry, Marcos and Peter; and his sister, Juliana R. Silva, San Antonio, TX.

 

Funeral services will be held at 10 AM, Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from St. John The Evangelist Church in Enterprise, AL with Father Gregory Okorobia officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery in Dothan, AL with Ward Wilson Funeral Home directing.

 

The family will receive friends from 5 PM until 7 PM, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at Ward Wilson Funeral Home. The family will be accepting flowers or contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice

<- back