Adolfo Pina Sr. Obituary (1924 - 2013)

Adolfo (Al) Pina, Sr. Adolfo Pina, 89, of Dickinson passed away November 19, 2013. He is preceded in death by his wife, Alicia Elva (Gonzalez) Pina; parents, Librado and Virginia Pina, and brothers, Ramiro and Librado Pina Sr. He is survived by his children, Vicky Whynott, Adolfo Pina Jr., Terri Duncan, Carlos Pina, David Pina and Richard Pina; grandchildren, Robert Christopher Duke, Rebecca (Whynott) Foster, Michael Whynott, Matthew and Alicia Duncan, Megan Pina, David and Julia Pina; great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Ava Stefek and Hannah and Courtni Foster. God, family and country are the hallmarks of his life. From humble beginnings, through war and strife, to a life blessed with many children and opportunities, Al exemplified loyalty to these principles. Al was born August 21, 1924 in Laredo, Texas. His family dates back to the 1700's with Joaquin Pina, a rancher with 6,000 acres called Rancho Senora Guadalupe de Zapata and from Juan Bautista Schiaparelli Chapa who was born near Genoa, Italy and came to the New World in the 1600's as conquistador, discoverer, professional copyist scribe, notary and author. A WWII United States Navy Veteran who served on the U. S. S. Colorado 1943 to 1947, he was in ten major Pacific battles: Tarawa, Eniwetok, Kwajalein, Saipan, Guam/Tinian, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Ryukyu and Okinawa. He was at the signing of the Japanese surrender and part of the "Magic Carpet" bringing home hundreds of Americans from the war. He did what was required to do to end this war and to keep his country and family safe. Some 60 years later in a FOX interview of the veteran's Honor Flight at the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC, he would proudly exclaim with raised arms, "This is beautiful. This is my country!" For his love of his country, Mr. Pina continued his fight for better health care and benefits for his fellow veterans until his death. Adolfo met his beloved wife, Alicia, at Delmar Jr. College in Laredo and they married May 31, 1953. Their first child, Vicky, was born in Laredo followed later by Adolfo Jr., Terri, Carlos, David and Richard each born in different states because he was an accountant and then office manager in construction business building power plants. He was a forerunner in the use of computers for business use and was instrumental in converting large accounting departments down to a handful of people with efficient computers. His home was always filled with the voices of children, evening news with Huntley and Brinkley, watching the "Lawrence Welk" show, and listening to music as he sang along with his favorite artists especially Augutin Lara. In his youth, Lara regularly invited him to sing. God, Country and Family were the center of his life. In his last year, Mr. Adolfo Pina was worried about leaving a legacy but he had already lived it to the fullest with memories lovingly intertwined in the lifetimes in his children, grand and great-grandchildren and in those who know him. In lieu of flowers, please make donation to Honor Flight Houston, P. O. Box 690545, Houston, Tx 77269 Memorial Mass Services are Saturday December 21, 2013 at 1:30pm at the Shrine of the True Cross in Dickinson followed by interment at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery. Father Larry Wilson with Deacon Jasper Liggio as celebrants.