Rudolph W. Zalobny, 86, of Deanville, passed away Saturday, May 28, 2022, in College Station.
A Celebration of his life was held, Friday, June 3, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Strickland Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Harvey Abke officiating.
The burial followed in Snook Cemetery. The visitation was held Thursday, June 2, 2022, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., also at the funeral home.
Rudy was born December 9, 1935, in Chriesman, Texas, to parents, William “Bill” Zalobny and Mary Rose (Repa) Zalobny.
Rudolph Zalobny, also known as “Daddy,” “Rudy,” “HemanBo,” “Bo” and “Papaw” lived the majority of his fruitful life in Deanville, Texas, on the beautiful Zalobny Homestead. If you’ve ever been to the Surrey Inn Restaurant in Caldwell, Texas, or the Deanville City Dump yard, then you definitely knew him.
Sipping his sweet tea, he met no stranger.
Rudy retired from the Plumbing Dept. at Texas A & M, but he didn’t stop there.
He was a jack-of-all-trades. He knew a lot about a lot and could definitely fix anything. From building houses, working on tractors, working cows, fishing, and gardening for rows on rows of food to feed friends and his family, he was a provider.
Rudy worked hard his entire life providing for his family and instilling a work ethic to be reckoned with in his three amazing children, Rodney Zalbony, Debra Benson, and Diana Smith.
The backbone behind the man was his loving wife of 65 years, marrying July 30, 1957, Rosalie (Poehl) Zalobny. They built a life together, a family conceived out of love, determination and stubbornness.
He loved his family just as hard as he worked. His great-grandchildren always looked for their dollar that he would have in his overalls for them every time he would see them.
In recent years, you could catch Rudolph watching Billy Graham on Sundays, faithfully. His family finds comfort in knowing that you could hear him whispering the Lord’s invitation asking Jesus into his heart at the end of Graham’s sermons.
Rudy was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mary Rose Zalobny; a grandson, Rodney Zalobny Jr.; a sister, Mary Smotek; and a brother, Zeke Zalobny.
Rudy is survived by his loving wife, Rosalie Zalobny of Somerville, Texas; a son, Rodney Zalobny and wife, Dorothy, of Caldwell, Texas; two daughters, Debra K. Benson and Diana Smith; three grandchildren, Crissy Cargill, Mikey Zalobny, and Kirby Smith, 11 greatgrandchildren; Kaylynn, Jacob, Chase, Ethan, Gunner, Layla, Alexis, Blake, Logan, Jaelee and Destiny.
Serving as pallbearers were Chase Zalobny, Logan Smith, Ethan Zalobny, Blake Zalobny, Kirby Smith and Jacob Rodriguez
Rudy has a place in God’s Heaven, and he’s reunited with his family and friends that preceded him. He will be missed here on Earth. Until that precious day that we meet with him again, we love you Rudy -- the Zalobnys, your family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home. They invite you to visit their website at www. stricklandfuneralhomes.com and sign the online register book.