Mr. Joe “Gator” Rios, Jr., 65, of Navasota, passed away Saturday at Grimes St. Joseph Regional Hospital. Visitation with family and friends will be from 5:00 – 7 :00pm, Wednesday, November 18th at Nobles Funeral Chapel, followed by a rosary at 7:00pm. A funeral Mass to celebrate his life will be held at 1:00pm, Thursday, November 19th at Christ Our Light Catholic Church with the Rite of Committal immediately following in Oakland Cemetery. Rev. Rodolfo “JoJo” Cal-Ortiz will be the Celebrant. Arrangements are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.
Joe was born in Navasota on February 10, 1950 to Joe Rios, Sr. and Maria Guadalupe (Quintanilla) Rios. He attended school in Navasota, followed by a technical certification at ITT Tech. He joined and proudly served our country in the United States Army. Joe owned and operated his own business in the security alarm industry.
He is survived by a daughter, Delilah Chandler of San Antonio; siblings Dolores Montes, Carmen Rios Contreras, Josephine Torres, Mary Medina and husband Aurelio, Ricky Rios and wife Tomasa, Susie Delgado and husband Rolando Lerma, all of Navasota, Martha Morales and husband Paul of Bryan and Monica Sotelo and husband Jose, also of Navasota; grandson, David Chandler, II of San Antonio and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Janie Herrera; brother Antonio (Tony) Rios; and nephew Joe Anthony Delgado.
Serving as pallbearers are Ronnie McGinty, Mariano Martinez, Edward Flores, Jr., Aurelio Medina, Rolando Lerma, Sr., and Jose Sotelo, all of Navasota. Honorary pallbearers are Mario Reyes, Marcus Montes, John Herrera, Max Herrera, Christopher Rios, Daniel Rios, Jesus Rios, Luiz Alfredo Rios, Paul Morales, Jr., Delino Morales and Abraham Cavazos, Jr.