September 1, 1949 ~ July 25, 2009

Armando "Roy" Chaboya began walking the streets of gold with his Savior on July 25, 2009.  He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He died as he lived, laughing, teaching, praying and giving to others.  His legacy will live in seeds he planted, spurring others on towards love and good deeds and realizing their God given potential.  He was a poet, an author, motivational speaker, collegiate level professor, firefighter/EMT, volunteer of U.S Army, itinerate preacher, marketing consultant, theologian, top salesman and wonderful father and mentor to many.  He is survived by his children, Daniel, Hannah, Sarah, David, Nathan, and their spouses; grandchildren, Amara and Gabe; brothers, Mike, Danny, Larry, Jose, and Carlos; sisters, Amelia, Rosie and Denise; and his beloved Shoshannah and son, Caleb.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at Victory Assembly, 2651 W. Ruthrauff Road, Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday, August 15, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Instead of flowers, you can donate to The Armando Roy Chaboya Scholarship Fund for college students.  Send to: Armando R. Chaboya Scholarship Fund, 6791 E. 51st Place, Tulsa, OK 74145.  

Published in the Arizona Daily Star on Aug. 13, 2009.

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From http://www.valleyoflife.com/ArmandoRoyChaboya        (Website no longer available.)

EARLY HISTORY TO COME SOON

Armando Roy Chaboya graduated from the University of Arizona in May, 1971, having lived in Tucson, Arizona ,all of this life. On June 6, 1971, he married Nancy McBride. They have five children Daniel, Hannah, Sarah, David and Nathan. Also two grandchildren Amara and Gabe, children of Hannah.

Armando had many jobs throughout his lifetime, one of his first professional positions was as a firefighter and EMT with the Tucson Fire Department. After leaving that job in the spring of 1972, he and Nancy and Daniel (then one year old) traveled in a 17 foot school bus doing ministry in the Midwest and Texas and on the Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona. During that time Hannah was born at her grandparents’ home in Double Adobe, Arizona.

In June 1974, he enlisted in the Army stationed at Ft. Polk while his family stayed in Tucson living in a trailer park in the bus. He signed up with the 81^st Airborne Division but after Basic never went to advanced training due to witnessing a shooting and missing his time to enter with his class. This breach of contract provided him an Honorable Discharge but with GI benefits. Following this short military stint, he attended the University of Arizona where he was in an Oral Communications master’s program. Because of the content and topic of his thesis on Christ Centered Management being too controversial and not academic, the committee did not allow him to complete his master’s thesis and schedule the final required classes. Sarah was born in Tucson with Roy having made a birth chair to help with the delivery. With his EMT training as a fireman, he delivered three of his children and assisted a midwife with Hannah’s birth.

In August 1976, the family was off to Southern California where Roy enrolled in Melodyland School of the Bible in a practical ministry program. This program’s focus did not meet the expectations he had. Therefore he continued his educational pursuits and was awarded a Master’s Degree in Management through the University of Redlands External Degree Program. This degree was later conferred in the fall of 1980. While the family was in Anaheim, California, David was born.

In the summer of 1978, Armando and his family returned to Arizona where he began working with the Shopping Guide, marketing advertising for businesses. He continued with the Tucson division of this company until summer of 1980 when he transferred with the Shopping Guide to El Paso, Texas. Roy began coaching youth soccer while in El Paso and Daniel and Hannah began playing. Nathan had been born in the spring before this move.

He enjoyed continuing success with this company in Texas until they anticipated a move to Austin, Texas. At this point the family decided to stop moving, received a bonus from the company, and returned to Arizona. This move to Sierra Vista was in August 1983.

In 1984, after a short year in Sierra Vista where Roy did some work with the University of Phoenix, the family moved to Tucson, Arizona where he had many relatives and also hoped to find more fulltime employment. He did various marketing jobs including World Book Encyclopedia, Herbal Life and University of Phoenix. During this time he was intent on a teaching profession at the university level.

Finally, in the summer of 1987, he accepted a teaching position at Oral Roberts University as a Marketing Instructor in the Business Department. He was held in high regard by his students whom he took a personal interest in as far preparing them in the marketing profession and in bettering their own personal lives. He enjoyed teaching there and was always in contact with his students even after he left in 1993.  He did some consulting work afterwards, but no other fulltime positions were found in Tulsa.  So he headed to Austin, TX and worked for a few years with the TransWestern Publishing Company as a sales executive.  He set all-time sales records and earned the coveted Winners Circle ring! 

LATER HISTORY COMING SOON!