David Mata, Sr.

David Mata, Sr., 70, of Wharton and formerly of Freeport,  passed away on Sunday September 2, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family.  He was born on April 16, 1948 in Wharton to parents Joe L Mata and Olivia Reyna Mata.   David was raised in the Wharton area and graduated from Wharton High School.  He served our country honorably in the US Army.  He loved his family and enjoyed spending as much time with them as he could. David enjoyed dancing, fishing, bar-b-que and charity BBQ cookoffs. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Henry Mata and Irene Esquivel.   He is survived by his daughters: Cynthia Ann Mata of Wharton, Dorothy Mata of Pasadena and Natalie Luevano and husband, Phillip Hernandez of Richmond; Sons: David Mata, Jr. and fiancée Sandra Aguilar of Cypress and Joe Justin Mata of San Antonio; sisters:  Nieves Cerrillo of Wharton, Guadalupe Mata of Wharton, Dolores Flores and husband,  Javier of Houston and Mary Alice Mata of Wharton; brothers: Jesse Mata and wife, Helen of Richmond and Joe Mata and wife, Dora of Houston; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.   Visitation will be on Friday, September 7, 2018 starting at 3 p.m. with a rosary recited at 7 p.m.  A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Wharton.  Serving as pallbearers will be David Mata, Jr., Luis Salinas, Joe Justin Mata, Joe Mata Jr., Olifidio Esquivel Jr., and Catarino Mata. Honorary pallbearers are Ernest Rivera, Jesse Mata, Mingo Marquez, Phillipe Castro, Rudy Contreas and Sam Martinez.   Services under the direction of  Wharton Funeral Home.  Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com