Deacon Zavala served in Siloam Springs since 2012

Published: March 23, 2017

Deacon Salvador Zavala

Deacon Salvador Zavala, who served as a deacon at St. Mary Church in Siloam Springs since 2012, died March 12. He was 68.

He was born May 15, 1948, in Salinas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, the son of Secundino Zavala and Paula López. On Nov. 17, 2012, he was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Little Rock. According to a 2012 Arkansas Catholic article, Zavala worked as a supervisor and served the Church as an acolyte and helped his wife with the RCIA program at St. Mary.

“I felt the desire to prepare to become a deacon since the 1980s, but I was never invited in Mexico. It was here in the United States when I was invited by the Lord through Father Clayton (Gould) and this was confirmed later when the election of new candidates began. I was called by Father Jason (Tyler) and I accepted the invitation, and here I am with my firm decision to become a permanent deacon,” he said in 2012, adding he was most influenced by “my wife, children, brothers and sisters and the entire community of Siloam Springs who have always encouraged me to go on. Amen, the love and presence of Jesus Christ in my life truly strengthens me and encourages me to go on.”

Zavala was a member of Cursillo and Adorador.

He is survived by his wife, Leticia Zavala; two sons, Jesús Andrés Zavala and Daniel Zavala, both of Siloam Springs; two daughters, Lety Bautista and Monica Zavala, both of Siloam Springs; and eight grandchildren.

A rosary was held March 15 and a Mass of Christian Burial March 16 at St. Mary.