Eliel Archilla

Lieutenant Colonel Eliel “Arch” Archilla of Dallas, TX crossed over into Glory on May 31, 2015. He was 91 years old.

Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico on March 27, 1924, Eliel was the seventh of ten children born to Gustavo and Maria Archilla. The family immigrated to New York City in the early 1930s where, after suffering the loss of both parents, Eliel and his 8 surviving siblings cared for themselves in the uptown neighborhood of Washington Heights.

Six months after Pearl Harbor, Eliel enlisted in the US Army Air Corps where he became a P-47 pilot assigned to the 9th Air Force, 371st Fighter Group, 405th Fighter Squadron. He flew 98 combat missions over France and Germany, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, and European Operations Ribbon with 6 battle stars.

In 1958, Eliel joined Hydrotex, a leading manufacturer of high performance lubricants and fuel improvers, where he worked until his death. He loved his company and the relationships he fostered with customers around the country.

Eliel’s proudest service was as a deacon of Northlake Baptist Church, ministering to the congregation and beyond for six decades—including a Sunday ministry at his place of residency, Churchill Estates in Lake Highlands.

Eliel was preceded in death by 6 brothers, 3 sisters, and 1 grandson. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Foye “Sue” Archilla, his son, Elliot Archilla, daughters, Linda Archilla Smith, Melissa Archilla Lawson, and Lisa Archilla Sims, along with 5 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, June 12 from 6-8pm at Sparkman Funeral Home, 1029 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson, TX 75081.

A memorial service will be Saturday, June 13 at 1pm at Northlake Baptist Church, 10110 McCree Road, Dallas, TX 75238, to be followed immediately thereafter by a military funeral with full honors at Restland Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.

For those wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).