Daniel Nava Solis age 99 passed away on January 13, 2022. Daniel is the son of Gregorio and Virginia Nava Solis. Daniel was preceded in death by his wife (Margaret Gonzales Solis) of 71 years and is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Avalos (Bill); sons, Daniel (Maureen), David (Norma), Michael (Trini), Paul, 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Daniel was born in Rockport, Texas in 1922, where he lived with his four brothers and three sisters. As a happy go lucky child he waded along the Rockport shoreline gigging flounder in the daylight, netting crabs or collecting oysters all in a day's work. He also hunted squirrel, rabbit and deer in the brush country surrounding Rockport, constantly supplementing the family dinner. As our father would say during those times of the Great Depression, you had to grow up fast and carry your load. During his teenage years, he was already working in the Rockport shipyards. A naval architect and his wife had befriended our father, first giving him odd jobs around their home and then giving him a number of jobs at the shipyard where they built mine sweepers, submarine chasers and tugboats. In 1938, starting at the young age of 16, he traveled to work at various shipyards in Biloxi, Gulfport and Detroit. During the time spent at each shipyard, our father was performing the work of a craftsman that included welding, torch cutting and ship steel fitting. As WWII unfolded after Pearl Harbor, the naval architect insisted that our father continue to work with him and was able to obtain a draft deferment to keep him at the shipyards. Our father's older brother and cousins had already enlisted, with the fervent patriotism resonating throughout the county luring at him. Unable to resist the call of duty at the age of 20, he volunteered and was inducted into the Army Air Corps in San Antonio, TX in September 1942. He completed basic training in Bryan, TX and was trained in aerial gunnery. He served as a waist gunner primarily on the Mitchell B25 bomber with some service in the B17 bomber during the Pacific Theater. He survived many harrowing missions and even a crash landing. Ironically, he was severely injured by a mortar explosion on the ground while taking part in a battle on New Guinea. Because his injuries were so severe, he spent a year recovering in a hospital in San Francisco. However, he was reluctant to speak about his war experiences because of its horrific consequences and sacrifices. Our father returned to Rockport after being released from the hospital and honorably discharged at the rank of staff sergeant with numerous battle commendations. His missing left-hand fingers from war injuries did not slow him down, first as a union carpenter and then working at and retiring from the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. After which he then owned a small business in home building and remodeling. He was a member of the American G.I. Forum for a number of years. He always made time with our mother to help out with their grandchildren whenever the call came from San Antonio, Houston or Corpus Christi. His favorite advice for those under stress, was his three Cs; stay cool, calm and collected. He was fond of sharing good cigars with family and friends while debating current events. He enjoyed taking the family on camping trips to the Texas hill country, and he thoroughly enjoyed the many trips with our mother to Mexico City. His faith was evident in his prayers and with his prolific collection of religious art adorning his room and walls. He always lived his life optimistically proclaiming to be living on borrowed time, celebrating life, and cherishing our countries great freedoms. We will miss him dearly until we meet again.

There will be a private family service at the funeral home on Monday January 24, starting at 12:00 p.m., followed by the burial at the Coastal Bend Texas Veteran's cemetery.  The burial at the Veterans cemetery will be at 2:00 p.m. and open for guests.