More detail on this person: Manuel Guerra
Davila died June 24, 2016 at the age of 72. He was
born in Kenedy, Texas in December 1943, the
second of four boys. Though his life was marked by
careers in both the military and as a civilian, he
doggedly pursued his first love of ranching in
Karnes County. When working in Mexico City for
SBC, he would return at every opportunity to tend
to his ranch and his many beloved horses. As a
young man, he attended and paid his own way to
San Antonio College and St. Mary's University,
only dropping out when he ran out of funds. He
then volunteered for the draft, joining the U.S.
Army in 1966. He did two tours in Vietnam as a
helicopter gunship pilot and was heavily involved
in combat missions, twice being shot down. His
last assignment in Vietnam was with the 192nd
Assault Helicopter Company; he was later able to
reconnect with this good group of men. Among his
many decorations, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Medal. Not
one to neglect his long-term career goals, he
continued his education by working on
correspondence courses during his "down time"
between missions. He eventually earned his
four-year degree while stationed at Fort Hood in
Killeen. When he left the military, he went to
work for Southwestern Bell in San Antonio, where
he was in management for 24 years. He worked in
Austin, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, West Texas,
Laredo and Mexico before finally retiring in 2000
to become a full-time rancher. He left behind: his
father, Antonio Davila; his wife, Madelon Davila;
his beloved daughters, Cynthia Davila Johnson and
Stephanie Davila Rodriguez, and their husbands,
Charles Johnson and Ruben Rodriguez; his
stepson, Chris Escamilla; his grandchildren,
Gabriella Davila Espurvoa, Luke Davila Espurvoa,
Trinity Davila Rodriguez and Nathan Davila
Rodriguez; his brothers, Alfredo Guerra Davila,
and his wife Viola, and Rudy Guerra Davila, and
his wife, Sylvia; and his niece and nephews,
Vianna Davila, Tony Davila and Rudy Davila, Jr. He
was greeted in Heaven by his mother, Claudia
Guerra Davila, and his older brother, Antonio
Davila, Jr. A visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m.
to 8 p.m. July 5 at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701
Austin Highway, with a service at 10:45 a.m. July
6 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
Published in Express-News on July 3, 2016
This information was last updated 07/10/2016
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