Rafael “Ralph” Sais DeLaO passed away in Austin, TX, surrounded by his family, on May 3, 2024, after a battle with interstitial lung disease.

The baby of his family, Ralph was born to proud parents Crespina and Preciliano DeLaO on August 24, 1955, in Del Rio, TX. They moved to Odessa, TX when he was five years old and he considered himself a proud, Odessan. Interested in sports, music, and motorcycles, Ralph proved to be an incredible runner, drummer, and car and motorcycle enthusiast throughout his life.

Ralph was successful in running both track and cross country throughout high school, winning races representing Odessa High School at state competitions and always loving the sport. He played the drums for various groups throughout his teenage and early adult years, instilling a love of all types of music in his children, especially Tejano, Country, and Classics and Oldies. He was also known to break into song at any time in both English and Spanish.

Cars, trucks, and motorcycles were his passion. Attaining his motorcycle license as a teenager, Ralph never stopped riding bikes throughout his life, and only as he got sick did he begin to lose the ability to do so. He spent most of his professional career fixing cars as a small business owner. He was a skilled paint and body man and adept at mechanic work. There was no car or truck he couldn’t drive or repair and no one matched his skills in backing up trailers of all sizes.

In addition to car painting, body work, and mechanics, Ralph spent many years working with TXDot, supporting our highway system around West Texas.

Ralph and his lifelong dancing and motorcycle riding partner, Rosa, were married December 2, 1980, in Lovington, New Mexico. They shared a happy life together-- almost 44 years of being married and raising four children in Odessa. Known fondly to everyone as DeLaO and Rosa, regardless of how many couples were on the dance floor, it was as if time stood still and no one else was there as they swayed in sync with the music. The beauty of their dancing made it hard to know where one of them started and the other ended. Together on a motorcycle, they rode throughout west and central Texas with friends, logging countless fun filled miles. They also spent a lot of time in their motorhome traveling and enjoying being retired. As he got sick, Rosa maintained her devotion and support through his last breath, exemplifying the vows of in sickness and in health and until death do we part.

As a father, Ralph loved and was so proud of his four children, imparting on them not only the love of music, but passing on to them his sense of humor, strong character, grit, argumentativeness, and determination. His love and pride extended to his six grandchildren, who he fondly referred to as his monkeys or crazies.

His humor was also a source of pride for Ralph, and he specialized in dirty jokes and simply trying to make people laugh, generally more successful in that feat than not. Even at the end, while being very sick, he maintained his sense of humor. He was also very skilled at home improvements and carpentry, making the family house a life-long project house—visitors never knew what was going to be different when they arrived, especially after a prolonged gap since the last time they visited. He was a talented artist and could draw and paint with great skill.

A proud lifelong Democrat, Ralph loved to argue politics, especially in West Texas. He stayed informed on current events, reading the newspaper each day cover to cover and watching all sorts of news shows, and never missed voting on election day. And although he wasn’t always right, in his mind, he was. He was a lifelong and devoted Dallas Cowboy and UT Longhorn fan, always hopeful for another championship win, or even a playoff game, each season. He never wavered in his faith in both teams. Maybe this year that championship will come.

Ralph maintained a strong Christian faith his whole life, growing up Catholic and illustrating Jesus’ love for others by being able to make friends with anyone he met and wanting the best for others. He had a generous heart, and he was known to stop anything he was doing to help a friend or family member when they called on him.

Upon hearing the news of his passing, friends and family shared how much of a loss it was for Ralph to be gone. He was like no one else; a handsome devil, bigger than life, stronger than an ox, funny, charming, a man of many talents, and always up for a good time. He will be missed by all those who loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Crespina and Preciliano DeLaO, brother Abel DeLaO and sister-in-law Olivia DeLaO, brother-in-law Frank Jacobo, Sr., and brother Israel “Roddy” DeLaO, and brother-in-law Rogelio “Roy” Botello of Orange Park, FL.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rosa, son Israel “Nick” DeLaO of Lewisville, TX, son Jeremy DeLaO and wife Heather of Arlington, TX, daughter Vanessa and husband Daniel Meadors of Austin, TX, son Aaron DeLaO and wife Joelle Maruniak of Austin, TX, grandchildren Jeremy DeLaO, Jr., Emry DeLaO, Victoria DeLaO all of Arlington, TX, Abigail and Lyla Meadors of Austin, TX, and Luka DeLaO of Austin, TX, sisters Hope Jacobo of Odessa, TX and Mary and husband Henry Rubio of Odessa, TX, sister-in-law Mary Botello of Orange Park Fl, sister-in-law and brother-in-law- Aurora and Steve Tercero of Odessa, TX, sister-in-law Priscilla Ely of Odessa, TX, and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Ralph was laid to rest at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, TX. If you would like to honor his memory, the family has asked for donations to be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at pulmonaryfibrosis.org or the Democratic National Party at actblue.com. 

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