Spanish exile in Mexico. During the Civil War, he reached the rank of field lieutenant of the artillery. He is married to Encarnación Ruiz and they have two children: Leonor María (Vega) and Francisco Ávila. He sails from Casablanca aboard the steamer Nyassa bound for Veracruz. He travels with his family, his parents Francisco Ávila Zapata, military, and Leonor Peña. His siblings Adela and Alberto also accompany him. He is a beneficiary of the funds of the Spanish Republic Aid Board.

Once in Mexico, and thanks to the help of the Mexican government headed by Don Lázaro Cárdenas del Rio, he was able to settle with his family and start a new life in exile, dedicating himself to scientific teaching, engineering, and later to artistic teaching by founding his own School of Art.

He returned to Spain around 1984 with his wife Encarnación Ruíz to reside in Cartagena (Murcia) for a few years and finally returned to Mexico in 1992. Once settled in Cartagena, the Government of Spain through the Ministry of Defense recognized all his military merits and his former rank of Captain of artillery.

He died in Mexico City on June 17, 2000.