David Phillip Canchola

David Canchola was born on July 18, 1946, in Upland California, to his loving parents, Joe and Carmen Canchola of Chino, California. He was the youngest of four children and was raised on a 5-acre ranch on Ramona Avenue in Chino, where his mom and dad raised livestock and grew fruits and vegetables. He had a happy childhood with his parents and his siblings Danny, Ruben, and Alice, and spent time with his many aunts, uncles and cousins. As a child, David had the opportunity to go on road trips with his family to places such as Louisiana and Mexicali to visit extended family. He also loved to go fishing and do anything outdoors. As David and his siblings got older, and his father was working at the Old Kaiser Steel Mill, David and his siblings had increased responsibilities to help keep the ranch running. David’s father taught he and his brothers how to work on cars and fix just about anything. David and his siblings attended Chino High School, where he participated in football and wrestling and had a lot of friends that he grew up with since elementary school. Through the years, he shared many stories of his childhood and high school years, which reflect that he had a lust for life and knew how to have a good time. After High School, David attended some college at Mt. San Antonio College and like his two older brothers, he began working at General Electric as a Jet Engine Mechanic. He worked on the jet engines of the commercial airplanes at the Ontario Airport and made many friends in working for GE for roughly 40 years. David was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1968 and was stationed in Germany and Vietnam. Because David had a mechanic background, he was assigned to work in the tanks, which he was very proud of, and he loved to discuss tanks and other military equipment. Upon his return, David continued working for GE, and finally retired in 2009.

David Canchola took great pride in his family and married his wife Laura Canchola, of Pomona, Ca. in 1973. Their only child, Michelle Canchola was born in 1978 and that is when he was able to share his great love of sports with his child. David’s favorite sport was football, particularly college football, and he was an avid USC fan. Prior to the birth of his daughter, David helped his brother Ruben coach his children’s soccer teams, and when his daughter Michelle was born, the adventure began. David became a “girl dad” and against his better judgement, took on the responsibility of coaching a little girls softball team because there were not enough coaches for the number of little girls who wanted to play. From then on, David coached many of Michelle’s softball and soccer teams, and being at a field of some sort on the weekend was the new normal for the Canchola family. Dave would often be the coach and his wife, Laura, the scorekeeper. Throughout the years the Canchola family had great experiences on and off the field with the other softball families. There were many pizza parties, road trips, pool parties, BBQs, and camping trips. He always felt lucky to enjoy these activities in the same community in which he grew up. David and Laura were very proud when Michelle received a scholarship to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, to play softball and further, when she received a master’s degree. They visited the Hawaiian Islands several times while Michelle lived there, and they were humbled by the kindness that the local people showed them.

David was also very proud of his son-in-law, Adam Creason, and enjoyed the mutual respect and bond that they shared in loving Michelle, being fathers, and both refusing to pay anyone to fix something that they could fix themselves. He took on the role of a grandparent to Adam’s daughters Juliana and Monica Creason, and he enjoyed seeing things through the eyes of children again. He also appreciated being with Adam, Michelle, and the girls for holidays, especially Christmas, and birthdays. He was very generous and loved Christmas most of all because he loved giving his family gifts and watching them open them with surprise. David had a great life and loved his family and friends immensely, and he will be truly missed.