Carlos H. Dovalina

Carlos H. Dovalina

September 29, 1945-December 18, 2022

Mr. Carlos H. Dovalina was called into the arms of our Lord on Sunday, December 18, 2022, where he joined his father, Fernando Dovalina and his mother Anita Treviño Dovalina along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends who passed on before him.  He always remembered his loved ones fondly and just recently was thinking of his mother who passed away on December 17, 1975.   It brings us great comfort knowing that he has been reunited with his parents and loved ones once again.

Carlos attended St. Peter’s Memorial School followed by Martin High School where he met his childhood sweetheart Maria Christina Leal.  He was a proud graduate of the Class of 1964, and he enlisted in the U. S. Army Reserves after graduation and enrolled at Texas A&I Kingsville where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts.  He then married Maria Christina Leal on December 23, 1970. He continued developing his love for auto mechanics while working with his friends, the Cruz family, at the Triple AAA Auto Sales on San Bernardo.  He started his teaching career with the Laredo Independent School District at J.W. Nixon High School where he taught Drafting and later transitioned to his role as a Homebound Teacher for the Special Education Department.  Both of these positions allowed him the opportunity to work with his students whom he cared for dearly.  His last position touched him deeply as he provided instruction to some very special students.  All of his students held a special place in his heart and he always looked forward to telling his family who he ran into or he saw at the store, or who stopped by the house to visit him and say “hello.” All of his teaching career was at J. W. Nixon High School, where he supported various student activities and events throughout the years.  He was very proud that his three children Claudia, Carlos Jr., and Clarissa also graduated from the same high school that he worked at.  After his retirement from education in 2004, he continued to engage in his own professional growth by reading books and articles of various topics from plants to politics.

He loved the outdoors and spent most of his time outside in his backyard working on something or at the ranch where he enjoyed spending time with family and friends and the wild animals. He loved taking pictures of plants, especially the different desert plants like cactus.  Besides his ability to fix almost anything that went wrong with cars, appliances, and conduct his own work at the ranch, he had several hobbies over his lifespan including riding and racing dirt bikes, photography, listening to all kinds of music, playing the guitar and other instruments, including the accordion.  He also started collecting guitars and enjoyed visiting all sorts of shops to find new guitars to add to his collection.  He also enjoyed going to Goodwill and finding certain items made of brass or items that were special to his family members such as baseball items for his grandson or southwestern art for his wife.  He became a fan of the internet and loved listening to music and watching videos on YouTube and stayed up to date with the news and current events, and loved keeping up with politics.  He always made it a point to go out and vote, no matter what.  

He was a simple and humble man with a sense of humor and storytelling capabilities just like his father, Fernando.  He loved to do impressions and tell jokes to make people laugh.  He welcomed everyone and anyone who would stop by his backyard to talk to him and enjoy a nice cold beverage.  Most importantly he taught his children to be respectful, humble, and kind.  He would literally give the shirt on his back to anyone that needed it.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fernando and Anita Dovalina.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife Maria Christina Dovalina; children, Claudia Christina Dovalina (Osbaldo) Guzman, Jr., Carlos Hector (Veronica Bustamante) Dovalina, Jr., Clarissa Dovalina (Terence J. Waddell); 5 grandchildren, Ilyssa K. Guzman, Nicholas E. Romero, Rebecca D. Romero, Antonio C. Waddell, Orlando X. Guzman; great-grandson Ethan Michael Guzman; brothers, Fernando (Barry) Dovalina, Jr. and Ramon H. Dovalina.  He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loving relatives and friends.

The family will be receiving condolences on Thursday, December 22, 2022 from 5pm to 9pm at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, 719 Loring at Cortez.; where a Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will commence at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Friday morning, December 23, 2022, departing the funeral home at 10:00 a.m. to San Martin de Porres Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m.

Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Nicholas E. Romero, Antonio C. Waddell, Orlando X. Guzman, Carlos H. Dovalina, Jr., Osbaldo Guzman, Jr., and Francisco A. Garcia.

Honorary Pallbearers will be:  Ramon H. Dovalina, Fernando Dovalina, Jr., Terence J. Waddell, and Ramon H. Dovalina, Jr.

You may express your condolences, share your favorite memories, and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, Texas 78040; (956)722-0001.