Name:
Richard Ayala
Birth Date & Death Date
December 10th, 1923 - October 3rd, 2009
Obituary:
RICHARD H. AYALA, Sr. Richard H. Ayala Sr, 85, passed to eternal life on Saturday, October 3, 2009 surrounded by his loving family. Richard was born on December 10, 1923 in Uruapan, Michoacan Mexico to Rafael and Juanita Hernandez Ayala. The Ayala family moved to the United States and settled in Dallas when Richard was five years old. He was the second oldest of twelve children. Richard attended St. Ann Elementary and Cumberland Hill School, completing only eight years of formal education. He worked as a welder and later attended trade school to master automobile bodywork. Richard met his future wife, Carmen Medina, at a church carnival in 1943. They were married on September 27, 1945, a few days before he began his tour of duty in Japan. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Richard and Carmen moved to their first home on Harwood St. Their twelve children were reared in this home in what was known as Little Mexico Village. After working for 17 years for Modern Olds and Taylor Pontiac, Richard began his own business, Ayala’s Body Shop, in the garage behind the family home. Richard’s sons and grandson joined him in running his business. In 1982, Richard and Carmen sold their home of 37 years and relocated their business to Lake June Rd in Pleasant Grove. When DART purchased the Lake June property, Richard moved Ayala’s Body Shop to its current location on Pemberton Hill. Ayala’s Body Shop recently completed its 35th year in business. Richard bought the current family home in Sunnyvale Estates near Lake Ray Hubbard. He planted pecan trees, corn and vegetables on his “farm”. He always had a welding project that he worked on in his spare time. Richard loved to fish and hunt. Carmen, his children and grandchildren often accompanied him on many of his fishing and deer hunting trips. Richard was a self-taught man. He read the newspaper and watched the news every day. He could discuss current events and politics with anyone often in a lively debate. Richard taught his children and grandchildren by example. He loved his wife and his family. He honored his mother and father and loved his brothers and sisters. His friends were life-long. He was an honorable, hard-working man. He was a father figure to many of his children’s friends and to his grandchildren. In 1992, Richard was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx. He remained strong and active even after a second recurrence of the disease. During his many hospitalizations and despite his declining health, his biggest concern was always for his wife, Carmen. Richard and Carmen celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on September 27, 2009. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Dr. Robert Stahlman and his staff, Jordan Health Services, Odyssey Hospice for their loving care and St. Augustine Catholic Church and Divine Mercy of Our Lord Catholic Community for their pastoral care and comfort. Richard is preceded in death by his parents: Rafael and Juanita Hernandez Ayala, his brothers: Manuel and Eliseo Ayala; sisters: Mary Ramirez and Alicia Martinez and his grandson: Richard Pereyda. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 64 years, Carmen Medina Ayala; sons: Richard Jr, Gilbert, Victor and Carlos Ayala; daughters: Juanita Cisneros, Mary Pereyda, Yolanda Ayala, Olivia Martinez, Carol Esquivel, Rebecca Ayala, Margaret Nanez and Josephine Alvarez; brothers: Raphael, Robert and Daniel Ayala; sisters: Berta, Isabel, Sara and Mary Helen; 29 grandchildren, 63 great grandchildren, 7 great, great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Calvary Hill Cemetery
3235 Lombardy Lane
Dallas, TX 75220 (map/driving directions)
Visitations:
12:00PM to 9:00PM on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at Gonzalez Funeral Home Chapel
Rosary at 7:00PM (map/driving directions)

Services:
2:00PM at Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin Guadalupe on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 (map/driving directions)