by Steven Doyle
Rusty Fenton, owner of Rusty Taco passed away today and we extend his wife and family our deepest condolences. Fenton was a veteran in the restaurant industry, and as one of the original principals of Uncle Julio’s he moved on to a magnificent career in the industry. Fenton had a hand in Stephan Pyles’ Taqueria Cañonita, and also in the reanimation of the Trader Vic’s in the Palomar Hotel in Dallas.
I recall at the opening of the original Rusty Taco, Fenton was on premises tending to last minute details after he had just been released from a major surgery. That is how he operated. He was hard working with a love for the hospitality business.
Last Christmas we asked Fenton about some of his favorite holiday memories and he shared this loving sentiment:
Christmas always reminds me of my mother who passed away due to cancer when she was only 44. In 1978 my folks had divorced and I was paying my way through Texas A&M, back when you could afford to go to college. Neither of my parents had any money and my mother worked two jobs to make ends meet.
One Christmas morning my mother presented me with a warm winter coat, bought with money she had earned in her second job. It looked like the coat Dennis Weaver wore in “McCloud”. I still have that coat 33 years later and yes it still fits. I keep it to remind me of my mother and how much she loved me, and to inspire me to work a little bit harder to take care of my own kids. Thank you Mom.
Fenton was 53 years old. Service is Thursday at 10:00AM at St. Michael and All Angels Church, located at 8011 Douglas Ave, Dallas.
Rusty opened his Rusty Taco next to us last year. We are deeply saddened at Mike Anderson’s BBQ House. Rusty was always a kind and gentle man. We send our dearest condolences to his wife and children.
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