Rogerio Jimenez's Obituary
Rogerio “Chico” Jimenez
January 7, 1929 – July 20, 2023
Rogerio “Chico” Jimenez, age 94, passed away July 20, 2023, in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his family. Chico was born January 7, 1929, in Brownsville, Texas. He graduated from Brownsville High School in 1947 and The University of Texas in 1956 where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting. His college days were interrupted by his honorable service in the United States Army during the Korean War. Upon returning from his military service, Chico married the love of his life, Gloria, in 1954 and they were blessed with 63 years together. Chico and Gloria met in high school and became engaged during Gloria’s senior year. After the wedding and honeymoon, they moved to Austin, Texas where Chico completed his studies at UT.
Upon graduation from UT, Chico and Gloria moved back to Brownsville where he worked for Pan American Petroleum at the Brownsville, Texas Chemical Plant. He was transferred to Houston, Texas in 1958 working in Gas Revenue Accounting and Lease and Royalty Utilization. In 1965, Chico accepted a position with Tenneco Oil Company in the Domestic Accounting Department where he lent his expertise in Gas and Oil Revenue Accounting. He progressed at Tenneco Oil to the International Accounting Division with business travels to Ethiopia, Peru, Columbia and Spain; the Mid-Continent Division; and the Texas Gulf Coast Division. Chico retired in 1989 after 24 ½ years with Tenneco Oil.
Chico was an avid golfer with a 4 handicap at the peak of his golfing years. To spend as much time as possible on the golf course, he convinced his wife and son to take up the game. Saturdays in the fall were spent watching UT football and later in life he also enjoyed watching the football games of his children’s alma maters. Much to the delight of his family, Chico was a grill master, first perfecting his skill on a charcoal grill and later on a gas grill. He loved cooking and in retirement took over the kitchen saying Gloria had cooked for so many years that it was his turn to cook. After Gloria’s death in 2017, he used her recipes to cook many meals for the family. Chico became an angler in retirement, fishing in both fresh and salt waters. His favorite place to fish was the Laguna Madre at South Padre Island where, at the age of 92, he won a friendly fishing tournament with anglers half his age. He carries the title of the oldest angler on Captain David Leal’s boat having last fished this past spring at the age of 94. Upon hearing of his death, Captain Leal renamed Chico’s favorite fishing spot in the Laguna Madre – Chico’s Cut.
Chico was a faithful servant of his Lord. He and Gloria were founding parishioners of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church where they made life-long friends. They volunteered in many areas including Eucharistic Ministry, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, Landscape Committee, and the annual Parish Fall Festival where they chaired with dear friends the very popular Ice Cream Booth. Chico was a member of the Men’s Club where many pancake breakfasts and BBQ lunches were served to fellow parishioners. Upon his retirement from Tenneco Oil, Chico volunteered his time in the church business office setting up an accounting system and establishing business policies and procedures.
Preceding him in death were daughter, Monica, age 15, in 1978 and wife, Gloria, age 85, in 2017. He is survived by son, Roland Jimenez, and daughter and son-in-law, Cecilia and David Campbell.
A private church service will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Houston, Texas followed by a private burial where he will be laid to rest with his beloved wife and daughter.
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