DAVID "PAPPY" CARDENAS PAZ, 79, passed away
peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones on
Jan. 30, 2023, at CC Young in Dallas, TX after a
courageous battle with cancer.
David was born on July 2, 1943, in Los Ojuelos, TX
to Adelaida Paz. He was the oldest child and had a
sister, Alicia “Zita” Paz Rhode.
He proudly joined the US Air Force in San Antonio,
TX in 1961, at the age of 17. After graduating Bruni
High School, he was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base
in Oklahoma City, OK. While serving in the military
David developed his love for travel and was trained
as a programmer where he worked for the Air Force
Communications Service. His service took him across
the world, and he had the privilege of being stationed
in Turkey for nearly two years. In 1969, after 8 1/2
of service David was Honorably discharged at the rank
of Staff Sergeant.
David had a deep love for learning and attended several
colleges during his time in the Air Force. He received
an Associates Degree from The University of Oklahoma and
a degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas
at Dallas. In addition to his education, he also spoke
five different languages: Spanish, English, Latin, French,
and Turkish.
David left the Air Force to work for Western Electric,
which later became AT&T Technologies. He had a very
successful career filled with many adventures and
after 31 years David retired as a Senior Systems
Programmer from Lucent. It was during his time at
AT&T that he met his lifelong love and spouse, Janet
Alsbrook Elkins; they were together for over 40 years.
David had many passions in life, but the study of
religion and his faith were his greatest. He was raised
Catholic and a parishioner at Divine Mercy of Our Lord
Catholic Church in Mesquite, TX. David was very devout
and well-studied in all forms of religion, he read the
Bible cover-to-cover countless times. He loved God with
all his heart and always put his faith first. David was
an avid reader, especially of history. He also enjoyed
all music and especially Classical music, one of his
biggest joys was listening to Lou Bega on repeat with
his three granddaughters.
His greatest accomplishments were working with his
grandchildren on their educational endeavors. David
was an educator at heart – he was kind, patient, softly
spoken, and always made time to answer a question or
solve a problem no matter how small. He took so much
pride in teaching and helping others and could often
be found in his office studying and coaching anyone
that asked for help. He was fount of knowledge, wisdom,
advice, and ideas.
David will always be remembered for the amazing person
he was and for all his life’s accomplishments. To know
him was to love him and nothing is truer. He loved his
family deeply and everyone loved him dearly. He will
live forever in our hearts.
David is preceded in death by his mother Adelaida Paz;
sister Alicia “Zita” (Paz) Rhode, brother-in-law Frank
H. Rhode, and niece Camille Dawn Rhode; mother-in-law
Frances Hayden Alsbrook; brother-in-law James Ronald
Alsbrook and niece Gavirin Rene (Alsbrook) Haertig;
brother-in-law Jimmy R. Garcia & niece LaDonna Rachelle
Garcia; and brother-in-law Joseph William Karolkowski.
David is survived by his beloved spouse, Janet (Alsbrook)
Elkins; two sons Bryan Todd Elkins and wife Rhonda Leigh
(Fisher) Elkins, and Jason Chad Elkins and wife Jennifer
Lynn (Messick) Elkins; granddaughter Ashleigh Renee (Elkins)
Whitlow and husband Viktor Thomas Whitlow, granddaughter
Whitney Lauren (Elkins) Gruner and husband Brandon Keith
Gruner, granddaughter Haleigh Keirstyn Elkins; great-
grandchildren Bodhi Gruner and Knox Gruner; sister-in-laws
Sharlene Adelle (Alsbrook) Garcia, Madonna Sue (Rodgers)
Alsbrook, and Karen Kay (Alsbrook) Payne with husband
Joseph Payne; nephew David Frank Rhode; nieces Tanya
Torres-Hernandez and husband Agustin Hernandez, Tarabeth
Hernandez and husband Issac Hernandez; David is also
survived by many great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins,
and many more.