Carlos Pena's Obituary
The Lord called my dear, sweet dad, Carlos Pena home on Christmas morning. He was born in Laredo, Texas on September 15, 1936 to Eloy and Hilaria Pena and died in Tyler, Texas on December 25, 2024.
When my dad was still very young his family moved to Ft Worth, Texas so this is where he grew up. He was one of 9 children. After he graduated high school, he enlisted in the Navy. He was stationed in Japan and served 4 years. When he returned he lived in Dallas, Texas, where he eventually met my mother through mutual friends. They married and had 2 children. My dad did not have any hobbies, his family was his priority. My mother did not start driving until I was in middle school so my dad would drive me and my brother and our friends everywhere. He drove us to practices, games, concerts, swimming, fairs, skating, you name it he drove us. He would drive a car full of giggling, screaming Girl Scouts or rowdy, loud boys. I can only imagine the conversations he heard on those rides. He loved to grill out. So every Sunday, we would have company and he would be on the grill. He had a love of all sports. I get my love of sports from him. He taught me what football was all about. There was never a time when we didn't watch the Cowboys. Although he could be very serious at times, he had an awesome sense of humor. He wasn't a complicated man, often a man of few words. But that taught me that you don’t always have to be talking, you can learn a lot from just listening. He loved his family, he always looked forward to doing things with his wife and always enjoyed seeing his kids and loved his grandson and great grandson. He was also a big history buff. He loved to read and knew a lot about all things historical. He took me to get my first library card and we would often go to the library and check out books. My dad was also the person who taught my brother first and then me how to drive. He supported us both in anything that we wanted to do or try to do. I look back on his life and he was such a selfless man. Dad. I am eternally grateful for the man that I got to call my dad. My mom and dad were married for 61 years.
My dad worked as a computer technician for GBC in Dallas and then Eckerds.
My dad is survived by daughter, Jennifer and husband, Keith Anderson. Grandson, Brandon Anderson. Granddaughter, Ashley Anderson and great grandson, Aidan Anderson. Great grandson, Cade Smiley. Sisters, Hilda Castro, Yolonda Jaime, Minnie Pena and Sylvia Cruz, and Brother, Hector Pena.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Connie Pena by one week. His only sweet son, Adlai Pena. His parents Eloy and Hilaria. His brothers, Eloy Jr and Louis. His sister, Laura.
Graveside service only will be on Friday, January 3, 2025 at 3:00pm at Restland Funeral Home located at 13005 Greenville Ave, Dallas, Texas 75243 in the Mission Gardens Section.
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