Alfred "Al" Carl Bevacqua

“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 was born with the curliest, blonde hair and he told us the story that Grandma didn’t want to cut it; and everyone thought he was a girl. So, little five year old Alfred, already making a profound decision at this very early age of his life’s journey, decided to run out of the house and down the street totally unclothed and yelling at the top of his lungs, ‘I am a boy’! Upon Grandma catching him, she got him home and she cut his hair that very day. Dad loved his sister and brothers, but always ended up getting his brothers into trouble for the antics that he pulled.

Dad wanted to join the US Army Air Corps at the age of 17. Because he was underage, he needed parental consent. Grandma was not willing to send her youngest son to War if she had anything to say about it. So she refused to sign the authorization papers as her other three sons had already enlisted in branches of the armed forces. So, not being defeated, Dad went to his older brother, Frank, and asked him to sign Grandma’s name on the form, which he did. Dad was stationed in Tunis, Tunisia and Foggia, Italy during WWII.

He was awesome! He did everything; he made certain we were always clean and had clean clothes, he pin-curled Mary’s hair, (oh how she hated sitting on that little wood bench), he did the washing and ironing, cleaned house, prepared wonderful meals, did all of the yardwork, and he was a seamstress too. He taught us how to be ladies and even how to walk in heels. He groomed us for College and we both graduated with Bachelor Degrees.

Dad worked for General Telephone Company in Spokane, WA. In 1965 he was transferred to Everett, WA.. His primary responsibility was in Finance and Accounting in the Treasury Department. You should have seen him run that 10 key machine! He never looked at the keys and never made a mistake! He was also instrumental in moving their department into the computer age. While in Everett, he was also a Fire Commissioner for Fire District 11 for three years and worked with Everett Fire Department. In 1972, Dad was asked to transfer to Kennewick, WA to help organize the General Telephone office, which he did. He was so loved by his staff and friends. But, it was there he decided to retire and move back to Spokane.

When we left home to continue our College Educations and to start our lives, Dad was devastated. He always said that he did a beautiful job preparing us to venture out, but he didn’t do a good job at all preparing himself. So, what did he do? He signed up for flying lessons and bought his own Cessna 182. Oh, how he loved to fly. He was an excellent pilot. Okay, that wasn’t enough, so he decided to become a long-haul big wheel trucker. When he told us he was going to start that venture, we were stunned. He loved to travel and wanted to see more of our beautiful country. He drove for fifteen years. After retiring from long-haul driving, Dad still wanted to travel, so he joined another of his dearest friend's, Laurence Briney, whom he worked with at General Telephone and also maintained a very long friendship, and Mr. Briney’s two sons and their wives on cruises to Alaska and Greece.

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.

Whenever we would call Dad to chat and ask him how he was doing, he would always reply, ‘I am mean, ornery, cantankerous, obnoxious and normal’. We knew then that he was doing great. Dad did not have a mean bone in his body. He wasn’t obnoxious either.

Dad was preceded in death by his mother and father, his first daughter, Antoinette, his brothers Pete, Frank and Joe, and his sister, Mary. He is survived by his two daughters and husbands, Kathleen Anne and Mike Klinger, and Mary Leora 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 "Sonny" (Pat) Burrell, and Carl "Junior" Burrell Jr., and their families; his best friend of sixty years, John “Jack” Schuler, and many friends and extended families. Dad was a deeply spiritual man and loved life, of which he lived to the fullest. He mostly loved being with his family and close friends. He was the most loving and compassionate man. He touched so many lives. He was so loved and will be greatly missed.

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