Daniel Avila

Dan Avila passed away on February 23, 2022. He was born in Joliet, Illinois on April 17, 1938. Dan was 1 of 13 children born to Modesto and Catalina Avila. While attending Kelly High School in Chicago he served as the President of the Chemistry Club, played varsity football his freshman year, and was voted Homecoming King his senior year. Dan served his country from 1957 to 1960 in the United States Marine Corp stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA, before attending Cal State Los Angeles. He met and married the love of his life, Helen Torres, in 1961. They resided in Southern California where he worked as a union electrician for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. His Christian faith, his wife, and his children were the most important aspects of his life. Dan shared his faith in Christ wherever he went. He was fun loving and outgoing, talking with everyone who crossed his path. Dan will be remembered for his compassion for people and his wonderful sense of humor; he made everyone feel like an old friend. Dan became an avid cyclist in his 40’s and didn’t stop riding until he was 78. He enjoyed golfing, hiking, and bowling with his wife and friends. Dan was a Boy Scout leader to his sons, and a football and a baseball coach on all their youth teams. He taught Sunday School and served as a deacon at the various churches he attended. When Dan retired from IBEW at the age of 50, he and Helen moved to Lake Arrowhead for 6 years before settling in Smithfield, Utah. Dan is survived by his wife, Helen, his three children, Dan (Jody), David (Yvonne) and Deanna Taylor (Alan), 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 3 siblings, Ben, George and Lydia Avila.
A celebration of life service will be held at Alpine Church, Saturday March 5th at 2 p.m. followed by burial at the Smithfield Cemetery. It was Dan’s wish that people attending his service not wear black. He wanted people to celebrate that he is now with his Lord and reunited with family and friends.