Guadalupe Rodriguez Poole was the first of three children born to Antonia Suarez and Merced Rodriguez on April 22, 1935. An oldest child in all ways, she left school after her second year to work in nearby fields in the Brownsville area so as to help her mother and two younger siblings after her father’s accidental death in 1943.
Lupe lived a life of great blessing because she trusted in the One with whom she walked, Jesus Christ. With a firm understanding of His grace, she chose to look at the good in others and she chose the road of forgiveness. Her faith in God would be the anchor of her life.
The honor that she gave to her parents would be rewarded as promised in the scriptures, though she did not realize it at the time. God consistently blessed what Lupe put her hand to. She knew how to work, and she knew how to give. She had an uncanny ability to turn nothing into something grand–whether it be a meal she whipped up for the many she fed over the years or her talent for turning a profit in her antique and collectibles business endeavors. Wise with her earnings, she sewed into ministry, saved, and gave. Because she and her husband understood the principle of stewardship which was birthed in struggle, she lived a life of plenty.
In 1955, she married Doine Henry “Don†Poole, whom she met during his assignment at Harlingen Air Force Base. Unable to marry in her local church because of her family’s bias toward his culture, they opted for a ceremony with a local Justice of the Peace and were wed in the Villa Nueva Elementary School Library in Brownsville and made their first home in Harlingen.
Their commitment, to the surprise of their respective families, flourished from the time they were newlywed teenagers for over sixty three years and produced four living children–Bill, Jim, Ruth, and Michael. But most importantly, through trials and triumphs, their union endured. They credited their success not only to their abiding love for one another and their commitment to their vows, but to their foundation in Jesus—He was the glue that held them together in every circumstance.
Don and Lupe lived the military life: moving their family often and leaving trails of happy memories and friendships forged during times of both war and peace. A military wife with great respect for the USA, she considered it a privilege to, in some small way, serve it. In their formative years, and throughout their lives, she instilled love of God, family, and country in her children. After their life in the military, Lupe worked for twenty years at Walmart stores in Laredo and Brownsville; her years there would lead her to a relationship with Sam Walton, the company founder, and the beginning of a helps ministry between the store’s claims department and the many poor living in Mexico colonias. Her love of giving to the poor and to various ministries that supported orphanages and the underprivileged was of great importance to her. If giving and service are gifts, she possessed each. She also gave the gift of joy which was found in her love of living a simple life—the playing of games with grandkids, dancing in the kitchen with loves of her life, and listening to her grandkids worship in the living room. Lupe cherished life with family.
In her passing, those that truly know her, acknowledge that a mighty oak has fallen, but its far-reaching roots live on in those she influenced. These include her surviving siblings, Cora, Nena, Rachel, Robert, and Juan; the Daughter-in-laws she loved, Barbara and Peggy; her beloved grandchildren and their spouses Brianna (Greg), Beth (Mike), Tony (Isabel), Marissa (Tige), Lauren, Josiah (Karen); and each of their children–the thirteen great grandchildren she adored and the hope of those to come.
Preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister, Virginia, and her brothers, Genaro and Jose Luis, we acknowledge that she doesn’t miss us, nor does she want to come back to this earth. Instead, in glory, she rejoices today with the God to whom she gave her life, and she runs and dances again with Don, the great grandson she neither met nor held, Noah, and the child of her womb that was never realized, but greatly missed.
Lupe is healed and at home with the Father.
And all is well.
A memorial service will be held for Lupita at Vineyard Church Brownsville, 1225 Mackintosh Dr.,
Friday, May 22, 2020, 11:00 am.
RSVP-To maintain social distancing protocols, call to reserve your space. (956)554-9020 or (956)543-4912
6 Comments
My prayers and condolences are with the family. Because my husband worked at Wal Mart I would see her at the store working with a beautiful attitude even when she was not feeling well. She would share with me the pain she would feel at times as I stood in awe of her strength to work during these painful times. She was sweet and kind full of His love and grace. I know where she is now. She’s with the Lord and her precious husband. ❤️
From my husband: Oscar Lizárraga
I had the blessing and the privilege of working with an incredible lady at Wal Mart: Lupita Poole. The memories I have of her is how kind and sweet she was. She was a very humble person, easy to get along with and to talk to. She was always looking for ways to help people in need. She would go out of her way to organize things to help people. She was the kind of person that would notice when things were not going right with people and she would ask: Is everything OK? She was always ready to listen and at the end she was ready to give a word of encouragement. And most important, in her words of encouragement she would always include God and give you hope.
She will be missed.
I have very fond memories of my good friend Lupita Poole.Walmart had a contest of who could make the biggest bubble with chewing gum, and since Lupita was very competitive, she made sure she blew the biggest bubble and sure enough she won that contest. When the personnel from the office came to the lounge we had marriachi’s and Lupita started dancing with the bosses. She also gave the “Grito”. She was the life of the party and we all had a good time. Anytime the employees had a problem with management, Lupita talked to the managers on their behalf and got things straightened out. Lupita knew her job well and she wasn’t afraid to tell Mr. Walton what sells and what didn’t sell. Lupita came out in the Walmart pages as selling the most of a certain item. Lupita had many gifts and one of them was the gift of giving and her love of people.I am going to miss her a lot. Friends like her are hard to come by. She is now with the Lord and Don in heaven, dancing with the Angels. Love you my friend, Mona
I will always have fond memories of a woman that I looked up to. She was a very strong and spiritual woman. Her love of God showed in everything she did or said. She was there for my mom when she needed a shoulder to cry on, when my sister passed away. Lupita was always willing to help people who needed a helping hand. I will be eternally grateful for her genuine friendship and her example of what it is to be a Christian. I just hope that I can walk in her example and show others the love of God like she did. She will always be in our hearts. This is not goodbye, but till we meet again. Your friend always, Sylvia
Lupita & I use to go to a very poor colonia in Matamoros every week to give out all kinds of stuff clothes,shoes,food,etc.She had such a big heart she loved doing it.She will be missed!
Don and Lupita were committed and loyal and took great pride in being apart of our family at the Antique Emporium in Harlingen. Jackson Street Market Days, Christmas Stroll, Art Night , no matter the celebration or event Don and Lupita would show up and get right to work helping in any way they could. I absolutely loved Don and Lupita both and I will NEVER forget them and the Antique Emporium will forever hold a piece of them within her doors…always.
Thanks to Don and Lupita for being part of mine and Tony’s life. I believe that everyone that comes into your life for a reason. They were two of the most beautiful I have ever known. They made my life richer just by knowing them. I don’t think of one without the other. Now they will be together eternally.
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