Richard J. Aviña

Richard “Dick” Joseph Aviña, 74, died peacefully after a two-year battle with cancer on February 28, 2021 in Las Vegas at home with his family.

He was born on February 26, 1947 in Culver City, California to George Mack Aviña and Irma Gallardo, the second of three boys.

As a boy, Dick spent most of his time with his two brothers, George and Henry. They grew up playing a lot of baseball and also body surfing at Santa Monica Beach. In high school, he was a standout football player and had offers to play in college. Life has a way of changing your plans and he married his sweetheart, Linda, on August 9, 1965.

Dick always had a sense of responsibility and a love of family. Dick became an electrician and loved the work he did. Before Dick joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he and Linda welcomed Carol, Cheryl, and Joey to their family. At thirty years old, he listened to the missionaries and wanted to join and raise his family in the Church. Dick, his daughter Cheryl, and his in-laws, Walter and Caroline Cooper, were baptized in the Cooper’s swimming pool July 24, 1976. Dick like to say he was Jesus’ age when he joined the Church. He loved everything about the church: missionary work, associating with members, Sundays, giving blessings, temple work, home teaching, and reading the Book of Mormon.

After joining the Church, they welcomed three more boys, Luke, Jon, and Zach. Dick loved life and his main focus was his family. Dick was a man of service and was always willing to serve others. He loved working in the Young Men’s and scouts. He served in several bishoprics and as a high councilman. He loved his time serving as a Bishop in the El Dorado Ward. He had an infectious smile and everyone loved to be around him. Dick had a saying that he lived by, “Do It”. He had a plaque made and put it on his Bishop’s desk.

Dick and Linda were married for fifty-five years. Dick was proud to be the patriarch of a large family from his six children to twenty-two grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was proud of each of them and liked to brag about them and their successes. Linda will be able to live out her life with the knowledge she will be reunited with Dick and will have an eternal family.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, George Mack Aviña and Irma Gallardo, and his brother George Mack Aviña Jr. He is survived by his wife, Linda Lee, his daughters, Carol (Buck) Mendenhall and Cheryl (Scott) Schauerhamer, and his sons, Richard Joseph (Kristy) Aviña Jr., Lucas George (Kritzia) Aviña, Jonathon Mack (Amanda) Aviña, Zachariah Lee Aviña. He is also survived by his twenty-two grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, his brother, Henry Aviña, and many loved aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Alpine City, Cemetery in Alpine, Utah.