Ralph Angel Avilez

Ralph & Grace together again . . . Our beloved father Ralph Angel Avilez was born March 5th, 1938 in East L.A. and passed away peacefully on January 25th, 2025, at the family home in Fresno, California. He was 86 years old.

His father, Ralph Mendez Avilez from Mexico, was a florist and later a heavy machine operator with the Operating Engineers, and his mother Guadalupe “Lupe” Calderon Avilez was native Apache from Los Angeles and was a dedicated mom to her son “Dopey.”

Ralph was a very personable and easy going guy who got along with everyone — a trait that served him well at over a dozen or so elementary schools he attended as the family followed his father’s numerous construction projects back and forth across California from the desserts of Palmdale, to the San Joaquin Valley, and as far north as Truckee. Dad captivated family, friends and acquaintances with stories of his travels, experiences and exploits throughout his life.

His family settled in Fresno in 1950 so dad could begin the 7th grade full time at Edison High School. Healing from a broken wrist while walking near their Mojave desert home beforehand, it was the physical education requirement at school that was the beginning of his 13 year military career. He began in the Cadet Corp. and through high school was in the Army reserves, the Navy reserves and finally joined the U.S. Marine Corp right after graduating Edison in 1956. Enlisting on a college program, he returned to attend California State University Fresno studying engineering right after boot camp.

After a couple of years of college life, dad finally went into the Marines full time assigned to Camp Pendleton, San Diego as an Electronics Technician— media of the time being tubes & wires, intercoms and such — with an E4 rank he was charged with a platoon to service the base operations. Dad saw no action during his military service, but missed the Cuban Missile Crisis while visiting home when the call was made. Honorably discharged February 1963, he returned to Fresno, where a couple of months later he would meet the love of his life.

A curious set of events would lead to Ralph and Grace to meet at El Prado nightclub. The courtship of Miss Grace Evelina Franco lasted just over a year and they were married May 2, 1964. Their first son Ralph Matthew was born January 1965 in Fresno, followed by his favorite daughter Sara Louise born April 1967 in Bakersfield, and then sons Richard Anthony in 1970 and Robert René in 1972 both born in Long Beach. Robert went on to heaven at just three months old. Our small family would remain as such until 2006 when Richard added his son Malachi to the family, and in 2018 married his wife Kathy. Dad and mom were wonderful parents and excellent role models. Both coming from humble beginnings, they knew what hard work and determination could achieve, and they taught us at every turn how a dream could become reality.

Dad’s first job was as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic with the Operating Engineers in 1963 — his first project had him working on the Los Banos Dam. Soon after, his State of California career began on his first wedding anniversary in 1965 as a Division of Highways Aide I working on the “soon to be” 41/180 interchange in Fresno, and the 198 highway into Visalia. The next assignment took the family to Bakersfield where he worked on a survey crew with the Department of Water Resources in the California Aqua duct tunnels to Gorman. Then, returning to the Division of Highways, soon to be CalTrans, dad went into the Los Angeles office, located across the street from the infamous City Hall. His assignments included projects in the Right of Way, Design and finally Construction departments where he relished being outside, in charge and able to use his talents and debate skills. He was a bright thinker, and received several awards throughout his CalTrans career for creating breakthrough designs to deal with various issues on roadways, bridges and even falling rocks.

Dad’s civil service career meant a promotion with each new job or department transfer and saw several home moves. To his credit, dad continued his education throughout our moves working to earn his engineering degree. He continued his college education at Bakersfield and Cerritos city colleges, and finally Cal State Long Beach where he earned the credits for his bachelors with a 3.8 gpa. He never graduated and was not officially degreed, since CalTrans had recently officially allowed him his Transportation Engineer position without it.

In 1987, the family moved back to Fresno so Grace could care for her aging mother. Now based in the Fresno construction office, Ralph’s highway projects took him all over the San Joaquin Valley — from Buttonwillow to Keen in the south and Santa Nella to the Yosemite Valley in the north, and many projects in between. As well, dad was detailed to FEMA in wake of the 1989 Bay Area quake and the 2000 Ferguson Rockslide in the Yosemite Valley. Retiring from CalTrans in 2002 with 44 years of service, he continued to work as a consultant with projects that included the 2006 Ferguson Rockslide, and more, as well as work with the City of Madera, until formally retiring in 2012.

Dad was a proud Marine, a loving husband, father, father-in-law, and Papa, a devoted brother and brother-in-law. Mom & dad never separated his & hers families, so in our diverse family tree, we were all family — brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts. Together they worked hard and supported each other and did everything possible for their future, and support family whenever possible.

Dad’s many passions included traveling, camping, home projects, maintaining his fleet of cars, electronics, movies, and his beloved dogs —Tuffy, Tuffy, Tuffy, Rags, Boots, Toots, Tuffy, Princess, Sir Frederic “Freddy”, Toby, Benji, Samson, Maxx, Nikki, Carrington, Chance, Reagan & Annie, and the rabbits & birds. As well, he realized his dream of being a pilot after his first plane ride at a Mojave rodeo in the 40s. A dream he might have realized in the Marine Corps if he would have stayed on for the Vietnam conflict. With Mom to get us ready, Dad supported all of us kids by driving us to night classes, amusement parks, joining in adventures as a Troop 258 Scout Master, and keeping us entertained through our childhood years with his Goodwill and clearance sale finds!

In his retirement years he also stayed busy as a member of the Marine Corp League Fresno Detachment 14, the American Legion Fresno Federal Post 509 where he was the BINGO paymaster for several years, the Paul Everts RV Country Club taking numerous trips around California, and he truly enjoyed the Edison Reunion Monthly breakfast group visiting with his classmates. We also spent many years traveling to Modesto to support Malachi’s soccer league games and later his cross country and track & field events from second grade through high school.

Ralph was preceded in death by parents Ralph Mendez & Lupe Avilez, wife Grace Evelina Franco Avilez, infant son Robert René Avilez, in-laws Librado Franco & Sarah Carrasco, as well as brother-in-laws Richard & Joanne, Manuel “Manny”, Hector & Raymond Franco and Edward “Benny” & Mela, and George Carrasco, and sister-in-law Rosa & Chaniti Mercado.

Dad will be sadly missed by his sister June, son Ralph Matthew, daughter Sara Louise, son Richard & daughter-in-law Kathy, and grandson Malachi Avilez, sister-in-laws Ruth Gonzales, Mary, Magdalena, Darlene & Irma Franco, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and life-long friends.

The family would like to extend our greatest thanks to the team of doctors who cared for dad this last year including Dr Michael Lynch & Dr Matthew Rainwater. We are also grateful to the staff of Clovis Community Hospital, The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens rehabilitation hospital, St Mary’s Home Health and Bristol Hospice for their excellent care and family support, especially Angela, Carla, Jasmine, Jaz & Julian. A special thanks to Dr Mohammad Shaikh & family for their guidance, support and friendship. As well, we are grateful to our active duty Marines, the Marine Corp League Fresno Det. 14, and American Legion Post 509 Honor Guard for their assistance to give dad his Veteran ceremonial sendoff. Lastly, a personal note of thanks to Auntie Cookie and friends Cordell, Doug & Melinda, and Gertie who have been with us every step of the way in preparing the farewell to our beloved father.

A visitation for dad will be held Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 3 o’clock PM to 6:30 PM at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Chapel, 836 E Nees Ave, in Fresno. A recital of the holy rosary will follow at 6:30 PM. A mass of christian burial will occur Friday, February 21, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St Peter’s Catholic Cemetery Nativity Chapel, 264 N Blythe Av in Fresno, with committal service immediately following.