Obituary: Bevacqua, Alfred Carl
Lt. Col. USAF (Retired)
“Al”
93 Years Young
Our very wonderful, loving Dad, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa, Alfred “Al” Carl Bevacqua, left us peacefully on Sunday, March 13, 2016 to be with Our Lord.
We know that he is at peace and out of pain now; but selfishly, we still weren’t ready when God decided to take Dad home.
Dad was born at home in Spokane (Hillyard), WA on September 28, 1922.
He was the youngest of five first generation American children welcomed by Italian immigrants Eugene Carl and Isabella (Iannone) Bevacqua.
Dad joined the Army Air Corps at the age of 17.
After Dad returned home from the War, he joined the Air Force Reserves.
He had a long career in the Reserves, and at one point being promoted from TSgt to Captain.
He kept advancing and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He married Anna Leora Flanigan in 1945 and welcomed three daughters, Antoinette Marie, Kathleen Anne, and Mary Leora.
In 1950, Dad divorced, and became the first “Mr.
Mom”.
He was awesome!
He did everything; he made certain we were always clean and had clean clothes, he pin curled Mary’s hair, he did the washing and ironing, cleaned house, prepared wonderful meals, did all of the yardwork, and he was a seamstress too.
Education was first and foremost in his parenting.
Dad worked for General Telephone Company in Spokane, WA.
In 1965, he was transferred to Everett, WA.
While in Everett, he served as the Fire Commissioner for Fire District 11 for three years.
In 1972, Dad was asked to transfer to Kennewick, WA to help organize their General Telephone office.
After his success, he decided to retire and move back to Spokane.
When we left home to continue our college educations and to start our lives, Dad decided to sign up for flying lessons and he bought his own Cessna 182.
He was an excellent pilot.
Then he decided to become a long-haul driver.
He drove for fifteen years.
After retiring from long-haul driving, Dad still wanted to travel and became a frequent traveler on the Cruise Lines.
In 2012, Dad felt so privileged to be able to take the Honor Flight to Washington DC and was accompanied by his grandson, MSgt.
Douglas Dickover, USMC.
It was a whirlwind trip but they enjoyed every minute.
Dad was preceded in death by his mother and father, his first daughter, Antoinette, his brothers Pete, Frank and Joe, and his sister.
He is survived by his two daughters and husbands, Kathleen and Mike Klinger, and Mary Bevacqua and Tom Irwin; his grandchildren and spouses, Michele and Dan Breland, and Douglas and Deanna Dickover; his great-grandchildren, Kailianna and Danny Breland, and Brendan, Sophia and Marian Dickover.
He is also survived by his nieces, Carol Jo (Tony) Rodriguez, Gloria Smith, Annette (Wayne) Riedinger; nephew, Joey Bevacqua; his great nephew Michael (Angela) Bevacqua and their family; his great nephews David, Kelly and Cameron Riedinger; his sister-in-law, Muriel Bevacqua; and his cousins Joe (Pat) Burrell, and Carl Burrell Jr; his best friend of sixty years, John “Jack” Schuler, and many friends and extended families.
Dad loved being with his family and close friends.
He touched so many lives.
He was so loved and will be greatly missed.
We want to thank Ken Davis for being a great friend to Dad and for being his caregiver for the last eighteen months of Dad’s life.
A special thank you to Dr. Michael Hixon, his primary care doctor; and Melissa and Trina and all of the aides from Hospice of Spokane who came to Dad’s home and provided incredible care.
We couldn’t have done it without you.
A Visitation will be held at Ball & Dodd Funeral Home, 5100 W. Wellesley Ave., Spokane, WA on Monday, March 28, 2016, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.
A Rosary and Requiem Mass will be held at Mount Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, 8500 N. St. Michaels Rd., Spokane, WA, starting at 10:30am on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.
Dad’s entombment will follow at 1:00pm at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7200 N. Wall St., Spokane, WA with Military Honors.
A reception to celebrate Dad’s life will follow at Kathleen and Mike’s home.
You are our Hero, Daddy; we are so proud and blessed that you were our father and “mother”.
The depth of your love of life and family had no bounds.
We will always be grateful for your unselfish love and continuing support throughout our lives.
God has taken Home an Angel.
You will never leave us, and you will always have an eternal place in our hearts.
We Will Always Love and Miss You, Daddy.
Kathy and Mary