Carlos M. Davila

Carlos M. Davila, 89, born on Dec 4, 1923, in Jalisco, Mexico, passed away April 30, 2013. He resided in Los Angeles, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Glendale, CA.

Carlos was born to Eduardo and Inez Davila Mancilla and was one of nine children that survived to adulthood. He loved serving his church as an altar boy and was a very good student, particularly when it came to numbers. He learned the importance of family responsibilities when his father passed away while he was still a young boy. Carlos' innate sense of duty and love for his family drove him to leave school so he could find work to help support his mother and siblings. The promise of opportunity in the United States beckoned and he soon made his way to Los Angeles. There he found work as an apprentice custom tailor and was able to support himself and send money back to his mother. As a young man who loved movies living in Los Angeles during Hollywood's Golden Age, he got the exciting opportunity to work as a tailor for MGM Studios. Among others, he worked on a suit for Clark Gable and a pair of slacks for his favorite movie star, Elizabeth Taylor.

Carlos made regular trips back to Mexico to see his beloved mother. It was during one of these trips in the mid-1950's that his sisters introduced him to a beautiful young neighbor, Lilia. He was smitten and before he returned to Mexico they exchanged addresses and promised to write. A romance via airmail ensued that lasted for over a year and that blossomed into love. Carlos married Socorro Alejandrina Lilia Jimenez Agrazsanchez on July 13, 1957 and their honeymoon trip was a roadtrip back to Los Angeles.

The following year they welcomed their first child, a daughter, Mariaelena, Two years later came another daughter, Lilia and year after that one more, Linda Elizabeth. Carlos wanted a boy and finally four years after their last daugther was born, they had a son, Arturo. By now Carlos was a full fledged custom tailor and eventually partnered with William Atterman to open their own tailor shop in Beverly Hills. Carlos worked hard to support his family and continued to send money back to his mother in Mexico for the remainder of her life.

While Carlos sacrificed his opportunity for an education, he always place great value on education and instilled that into his children. He and Lilia, through major sacrifices, provided all four of their children with private elementary and college preparatory high school educations. It was a source of great pride for him that all four went on to college and two went on to law school.

Although he worked very hard, Carlos enjoyed relaxing and socializing with friends. He loved to tell stories, make jokes, going to the movies and dancing. He loved musicals, Frank Sinatra and the 3 Tenors. He also was a great supporter and friend of the brothers and priests of the Order of St. Dominic and became a lay Dominican brother himself.

Upon retiring, he and Lilia spent every day together, taking casino trips, bowling, enjoying their children & grandchildren and hosting luncheon gatherings at their home in Glendale where he lived until the love of his life passed away in 2012.

He moved to Vingage Senior Living in Burbank early in 2013 where he always made the staff laugh and smile with his jokes even on the day of his passing.

Carlos is survived by his four children and six grandchildren. He will be forever missed, forever in our hearts.