Danel Allen Gillard (1924 - 2019)

Born 8 Dec 1924 in Longview, Gregg, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Died 1 Dec 2019 at age 94 in Richland Hills, Tarrant, Texas, United States

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Biography

Danel was born in 1924. He was the son of Samuel Gillard. He passed away in 2019.

Obituary for Danel Allen Gillard RICHLAND HILLS - Danel A Gillard, 94, passed away Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019.

He was born Dec. 8, 1924. At an early age Danel loved to build things. He would build model airplanes, unique H.O. model rail cars and locomotives. Danel would ride his bike from Oakhurst to a Southside model shop to buy 10 cent model airplane kits. He would also pedal to Meacham Air Field to watch the planes and talk with anyone that would talk with him. He fulfilled a dream when he learned to fly and was co-pilot on many mission trips to support a missionary family on Cat Island in the Bahamas. He even gave his daughters a few flying lessons. He bought, sold, and traded up airplanes until he owned a Bonanza, fulfilling an additional dream.

He wanted to learn a new skill every year throughout his life. Being an avid reader he often ran out of anything to read, so he would read the encyclopedia. He was privileged to ride some of the first water skis in the area. With a skilled pattern maker, he made a pair of skis and enjoyed teaching others to ski (especially the church youth group). He even skied behind an airplane on Lake Grapevine. ONCE!

He loved spending time at his parent's farm so he put in a grass landing strip and built a 40 x 60' airplane hanger so he could spend more time with them. He did everything but the concrete work on the building.

He purchased a small unfinished apartment complex and as general contractor and straw boss, he redesigned and finished it. He was owner, manager, maintenance man and groundskeeper for 25 years.

Danel purchased 3000 antique 1906 Thurber bricks out of the old stockyards and put in a 100' driveway plus a turn around. He had help selecting, loading and transporting the bricks. He designed and laid the driveway by himself, despite friendly onlookers.

He loved his church. More than once while ushering, a visitor would ask "What or which church is this?" We needed a sign! So he purchased a large piece of boiler plate sheet metal and, using a jigsaw and many, many blades, made and installed a sign on the front lawn of Richland Hills United Methodist Church. He heard a member was keeping the church tools and lawnmower in his garage, so he challenged the Fidelis Sunday School Class to give the money so he and his cousin Garland Everman could build a tool shed. The class took the challenge and the shed was built.

In 1992, he fulfilled another dream, and took on another big project. He purchased a lot on Eagle Mountain Lake with an old cabin. He re-roofed and remodeled the cabin, adding a room and bath. The pier and boat dock were destroyed in a 1990 storm. He removed the old structure and built a 100' pier with two boat slips. He designed welded and constructed a 30' boat lift in one of the slips. He also put in a concrete seawall with the help of a neighbor. If he did not know how to do something, he would make inquiries, research and then do it.

Survivors: Wife of 71 years, Doris; daughters, Dayna and Denise (Larry); six granddaughters; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many friends.

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Sources

• Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LX4-JW3Z : 14 February 2020), Danel Allen Gillard, 1924

United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HKQ4-MZM : accessed 2 May 2021), Danal A Gillard in household of Sam B Gillard, Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 81, sheet 49A, line 35, family 769, NARA microfilm publication T626

United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K47J-Q71 : 27 January 2020), Danel A Gillard in household of Samuel B Gillard, Ward 19, Fort Worth, Justice Precinct 1, Tarrant, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 257-124, sheet 21B, line 70, family 477, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627