Pedro F. Rodriguez, 89, former resident of Defiance, passed away Friday afternoon November 23, 2012 in the ER at the University of Toledo Medical Center. He had been a resident of the Laurels of Toledo for the past year and a half.

He was born on September 3, 1923 and was the son of Pedro and Antonia P. (Flores) Rodriguez.

On May 3, 1943 he married Esther Villa and they were blessed with 67 years of marriage until her passing in February 2011.

Pedro is survived by his son, Antonio (Tom) Rodriguez of Holland, OH, son, Ramiro (Michelle) Rodriguez of Berne, IN, son, Valentino (Heidi) Rodriguez of Sylvania, OH, son, Eduardo Rodriguez of Sylvania, OH, daughter, Yolanda (Clem) Trevino of Fort Wayne, IN, daughter, Nube Linda (John) Dombrowski of Toledo, OH, daughter, Criselda (Ted) Brodeur of Long Beach, CA, daughter-in-law Gina Rodriguez of Toledo, 21 Grandchildren, 22 Great Grandchildren, brothers Jesus R. Rodriguez of Defiance, Ray Mata of Ft. Wayne, IN. and sister-in-law Bertha Rodriguez of San Jose, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Esther, his son, Pedro "Pete" Rodriguez Jr., his daughter Christina Jones and a sister-in-law Consuelo Villa.

Pedro lived most of his life in the Defiance area. He started working at GM in Defiance in 1948 and retired as a welder in 1986. Pedro was a lifetime member of the VFW #3360 of Defiance and had been a past member of the Eagles, Moose and AMVETS all of Defiance. In addition, he was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church. Pedro had owned El Rancho Ballroom in Woodville which was the only Mex-Tex dance hall in the area. He would bring in bands from Mexico and Texas. Pedro previously owned the Wagon wheel in Defiance.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 26, 2012 from 2 to 8pm in the Hanenkrath-Clevenger-Schaffer Funeral Home, Defiance. Vigil service will be at 7:45pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 11:00AM in St. John's Catholic Church, with Father Todd Dominique officiating.

Burial will take place in the Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the St. John's Catholic Church. A special thank you to the staff of the Laurels of Toledo for their loving care.