Obituary: Rafael Rangel Pizana

Memorial services for Rafael Rangel Pizana, 71, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 at the Kiwanis Park Pavilion in Athens.

Mr. Pizana died Feb. 23, 2013 in Athens. He was born Feb. 15, 1942 in Bend, Texas to the late Julian and Delfina Rangel Pizana.

Rafael formerly resided in Corpus Christi three years, Woodburn, Oregon six years, Sinton, Texas six years and moved to Tyler in 2011 from Portland, Oregon where he had lived since 1985. He was a retired Aviation Mechanic. A well decorated U.S. Army Veteran , Rafael served three tours of duty with the 82nd Airbourne in Vietnam and was a prisoner of war for three months.

Survivors include his wife Maureen Mary Pizana; sons, Ralph Pizana, Madisonville, Daniel Pizana, Shannon Pizana, both of Portland, Oregon; daughter, Caprice Christopher and husband John, Tyler; brother, Pete Pizana, Victoria; sisters, Norma Lucio, Gloria Ciarese, Tina Aguillar, all of Corpus Christi, Rosil Gonzales, Salem, Oregon; 12 grandchildren.