Rene David Gonzalez
83, Cropwell, Ala.
Graveside services and a Christian burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2018, in Woodlawn Cemetery for Rene David Gonzalez, 83, of Cropwell, Ala., who passed away on Sunday, May 20. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. and a celebration of life will be held from 5:45 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, May 25, at Kilgroe Funeral Home in Pell City, Ala.
He was born in Puerto Castilla, Honduras, on June 19, 1934, the first born son of Joseph and Marina Gonzalez. He moved to the United States at the age of 12, alone, for an American education, married his college sweetheart and remained in the U.S., where he proudly became a U.S. citizen. He attended Northfield Mount Hermon School formerly known as Mount Hermon School for Boys, a boarding school in Mt. Herman, Mass. He finished high school in Poplarville in 1952. He graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in journalism in 1956 where he was the editor ofthe university newspaper, The Student Printz, and became a loyal Golden Eagle fan, member of the Eagle Club and Alumni Association.
In his early career, he was on staff with newspapers in Alexandria, La., Bristol, Va., Cedartown, Ga., Louisville, Picayune and the Columbian-Progress. He later became the director of Columbia’s Self Help Housing Corp, followed by The Director of Mississippi’s Mental Health Association. Additionally, he was the owner of Papa G’s Fat Boys Restaurant in Columbia. He also enjoyed a career in sales before retiring, and most recently, in his retirement, as a substitute teacher in the Pell City School System.
He was an active member of Church of the Highlands at the Greystone Campus in Birmingham. He was formerly a member of The Marion County Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees, a leadership training and civic organization, on the local, state and national levels. He was a Lifetime Dusty and Phi Kappa parent in Columbia, which is where he acquired his nickname, Papa G.
Rene was always the life of the party. He loved life and people. He never met a stranger. He lived a life of service, always wanting to help others. He was a very proud and patriotic first generation American.
Survivors include his four children, Marina Sanders (George) of Montgomery, Anna Rose Ho-Ho-Kus (Billy) of N.J., Michael Gonzalez (Belinda) of Southaven and Joseph Gregory Gonzalez (Shelly) of Jasper, Texas; 10 grandchildren, Mathew Sanders (Katie), Channing Gonzalez, Isaiah Gonzalez, Chase Gonzalez, Billy Rose, Ryan Rose, Isabella Gonzalez, Ashley Rose, Savannah Gonzalez and Jonas Gonzalez; brother, George (Carole), and three nieces, Deborah Gonzalez, Patty Miller and Michelle Moody.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to one of the following causes which Rene had personal connections with would be greatly appreciated.
The Hand in Paw Animal Assisted Therapy
617 38th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35222
Or online @ www.handinpaw.org
Please specify your donation is In memory of Rene Gonzalez
The Rosemary Massey Gonzalez "I Believe" Scholarship Fund
*In the memo line write: Gonzalez Endowment #3069 (In memory of Rene Gonzalez)
Mail to: USM ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
PO Box 15458
Hattiesburg, MS 39404
Or call 601-266-5034
100% of your donation is tax deductible
