Ruben D. Zapata passed away Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 in Azle.

Mr. Zapata was born Oct. 9, 1924 near Los Ebanos to the late Federico F. Zapata and Maria F. Zapata.

He attended La Joya High School. He served in the United States Navy during WWII in the Pacific aboard the USS Calvert from 1943 to 1945 bringing relief supplies to Japan. When he returned, he attended the University of Houston. He married his wife, in Los Ebanos, Alicia M. Flores in 1949. They lived in Houston until 1954, when they returned to South Texas to settle in McAllen

He worked as a television repairman for an appliance store until he opened his own shop in Mission. He retired in 1983 and moved to Mission, to McAllen in 1995, to Crowley's St. Francis Village in 2008 and finally to Azle in 2010.

Survivors include his wife, Alicia M. Zapata of Azle; sons, Andy Zapata and Vito J. Zapata; daughter, Nora Z. Montez; brothers, Ricardo of Seattle, Wash., Reynaldo of Hollywood, Calif. and Ramiro of McAllen; and eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A funeral mass was held Dec. 6 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Interment was held Dec. 7 at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.