Antonio Damaso's Obituary
Antonio Gelacio Damaso, 97, of Garland, Texas took his last breath at 8:24p.m. on November 20th, 2018, at Legend Oaks in Garland. He was born on June 13th, 1921 to Apolonio Damaso and Angeles Gelacio Damaso in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He married Melodia Antig on June 5th, 1954 in Cebu City, Philippines. Antonio “Sir” Damaso was an aviation legend in the Philippines, as one of the six original founders of Cebu Aeronautical Technical School in 1953, employed as lead aeronautical engineer and instructor for 33 years until he retired at the age of 60. In September, 1941 he was recruited by the United States Air Force as an aircraft engineer and then served with his unit of the Philippine Army which was a member of the United States Air Force during WWII. By 1954 he was the only licensed Aircraft and Powerplant (License #107) and Ground School Instructor (License #44) issued by the Cebu Aeronautics Administration as well as the only Licensed Aircraft Inspector in the Southern Philippines. He would be called upon to determine the cause of plane accidents after they occurred. During the Marcos administration, he was offered the position of inspector of the Cebu Aeronautical Administration when PAL, Philippine Airlines, was originally stationed in Cebu. He refused as he was happy at Cebu Aeronautical School and busy courting Melodia “Ludy”. Papa Tony survived a plane crash that killed two of his colleagues, and refrained from flying thereafter. He sold his twin-engine Cessna so that a few of his daughters could attend Velez College of Nursing. Eventually, they migrated to Dallas, TX in 1986 to join their daughters in the United States with the rest of the family. He remained active in the Catholic community through the Rosa Mystica and Senor Santo Nino Prayer Group as “Papa” to all and will forever be remembered for his kind, jolly soul, his dance moves, his signature style, his delicious food, and his sharp memory which remained intact throughout his final years. We will miss his bright smile greatly. He is preceded in death by his siblings: Juana Torres, Anastasia Damaso, and brother Bob Damaso, and is survived by Melodia Antig Damaso, in Garland, Texas, as well as daughters: Lita Luiz of Las Vegas, NV, Evelyn Atis of Garland, TX, Arlene Satterfield of Seattle, WA, Ana Loida Dumlao of Ewa Beach, HI, Divina Heyne, of Euless, TX, and Daughter-in-law Herminia Damaso; and sons: Romeo Damaso of Santa Clara, CA, Apolo Damaso of Garland, TX, Marco Antonio Damaso Jr. of Garland, TX, and Son-in-laws: Paul Luiz, Freddie Dumlao, Alf Satterfield, Reynaldo Atis, and Timothy Heyne. He had 11 Grandchildren: Marie Grace, Precious “Peachy”, Ric Anthony, Erick, Jethro “Jet”, Eric Glenn, Rachel, Kristine, Joshua, Alf Zachary “AZ”, and Clay. He had 5 Great-grandchildren: Rianne Gwynn, Jazmin Cass, Zyler, Keanu, Tahtiana, Kyriana, and 1 great-great grandchild: Xyavian. The visitation/viewing will be at Restland Memorial Chapel in Dallas on Tuesday, November 27th, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral mass will be on Wednesday, November 28th, 2018 at 11am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rowlett. The burial will be at Restland at 1p.m. with reception to follow.
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