David Rivera

He graduated from Harlingen High School in 1983 and was a proud trumpeter of the Big Red Cardinal Band. David may have been a man of humble beginnings, but the treasures of his heart were great. He cherished his memories of growing up in South Texas. His hometown and his beloved family and friends always remained precious to him. Even though he left Harlingen as an adult, David continued to stay in contact with childhood friends, often traveling to The Valley to reminisce and visit the land he held so dear in his heart. In 1986 David and his lifelong friends, Gilbert and Richard, made the trek up I-35 North to begin new adventures in Austin, Texas. Over the course of his 30+ years in the Austin area, David worked at Southern Comfort Waterbed, VTel, Wayne Dresser, and Junk King, where he was a General Manager. In addition to steadily working those jobs, David worked as an Uber driver evenings and weekends for a time. By far, David found the experience of being a driver the most interesting. He was fascinated and drawn in by many people he met. He befriended an elderly couple and became their personal driver, often driving them long distances to medical appointments. It was also during this time David truly gave his heart to Christ. For those Uber riders willing to receive it, David often earnestly spoke of the goodness of Christ during late night drives. For David, getting to know Jesus was life changing; and most of all, he longed for his loved ones to experience the freedom of grace, forgiveness and unconditional love that come from personally knowing Christ.

David will be missed for his endearing smiles and contagious laughter. If you had the opportunity to sit with David at a party, you were guaranteed to be laughing all night. His jokes, quick wit, and ability to tell a story are unrivaled. He absolutely loved family get togethers, outdoor grilling, and cheering on his favorite sports teams. When it came to the Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys you could count on him to be suited up and ready to cheer the loudest. David was as passionate about music as he was his sports teams. Whether it was Mariachi, Tejano, Ranchitos, or a good old country song, David began to shine upon hearing the first chord. And if a dance floor was nearby, sparkling “Diamond Dave” was sure to be on it.

David was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers: Ricardo, Mario, Epitacio, Rogelio, George and Domingo; and two sisters, Emelina Puga and Raquel Barrera. He is survived by two sisters; Cristella Mata and Diana Rodriguez.

In addition to the many hometown family and friends who will miss David, his Zamarripa family in Round Rock was forever changed for the better the night he came to dinner and never left. Thank you for loving us, David. You are so light and unburdened now. We smile knowing you are dancing in heaven and charming the angels.

A burial for David will occur Sat. April 6, 2024 at 2PM at Restlawn Memorial Park, 14166 US-83 BUS, La Feria, Texas 78559.