Ismael "Mel" Carranza

Ismael "Mel" Carranza, 84, passed away Monday, December 2, 2019.
Mel was born May 15,1935, in Saltillo Coahuila Mexico to Don Artemio Strasburger Carranza and Carmen Ferrino Carranza and died on December 2, 2019. Mel’s grandfather Don Jesus Carranza Garza and great uncle the former President of Mexico, Venustiano Carranza had continued politically with reformation ideals through their siblings. With his father very active in politics, the other political party in Mexico was not so enthused. Mel’s 7 brothers and 5 sisters left Mexico due to political threats. Mel’s mother sold her shares in her Italian family’s vineyard to help move the family to the United States and settled in Corpus Christi, TX and then eventually moved to Los Angeles and San Jose California.
Mel truly lived the American dream. Inspired by another family member, Emilio Carranza, the Mexican “Charles Lindberg”, Mel had decided at the age of 11 years, that he was going to be a pilot. His instructor at 14 years of age was Pauline Glasson, who he later honored her with a City Proclamation from the Mayor of Corpus Christi, Texas, thanking her for a lifetime of aviation contributions and for helping Mel become the Captain of the largest commercial airplane.
Mel loved flying! He ate, slept and flew. With dedication and hard work, at 16 years old Mel received his private pilot’s license and at 18, received his commercial and instructor license. Mel joined the Air Force in 1954 at the tail end of the Korean war and became a flight instructor. He started his family and had two children; Cyndi and Rick. While stationed at Lackland Air Force base, San Antonio, Texas; he was instrumental in organizing the first Aero Flying club for officers. After completing his military service, Mel applied in 1961 to NASA in an attempt to become the first foreign born astronaut. After Mel learned that he was not selected, he was hired by the Bexar County Sheriff’s department. He stayed long enough to assist in setting up a law enforcement air division. Mel then jumped at an opportunity to fly for American Flyers in Fort Worth, Texas as a pilot and an instructor. He then carried his family to Oklahoma City to fly for Capital Airways and ended up in Houston, Texas flying for Trans Texas Airlines (TTA). Mel continued to fly for TTA, when the carrier changed their name to Texas International Airlines who later merged with Continental Airlines then becoming United Airlines. While flying for Continental he opened-up a flight school and seaplane dealership at the David Wayne Hooks Airport in Spring, Texas where both his children learned to fly. He became a FAA examiner and was at the flight school if he wasn’t flying commercially. Once he made Captain of the 747, he decided to pack his bags and move to Honolulu until he retired after 32 years in 1995.
Over the years, Mel would often share hair-raising stories of missions or flights he had made to family and friends. Some of the most meaningful projects he held dear to his heart, was convincing the airline owner to fly supplies to Mexico during the 1985 earthquake in which Mel would fly the plane. Mel stated they flew over 270 tons of supplies. Mel repeated this with an Ethiopian project and countless other projects. At one time, Mel was approached by his airline’s Mexican Operations Division to assist in establishing Mexican flight destinations to Monterrey, Tampico and Veracruz which he did. Mel, led by example and always taught his family to volunteer and to give back to the community.
Mel was always on the go, traveling from here to there but, still found time for family. He loved to entertain, play Skip-Bo, tell jokes, hug the ladies and could be quite the prankster. Mel loved his family dearly and loved this country and said he had truly lived the American Dream. Over the years, he taught many friends and family to fly and make careers and hobbies out of flying.
Once Mel retired from Continental Airlines and settled in Grapevine, Texas with Hilda, he opened up an Insurance business but still found time to take lots of cruises and go to the casinos. Mel was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Grapevine, Texas and even chaired the Bizarre for two years - a large endeavor. He became very active with the Mount Holly, New Jersey Post 11 American Legion who promoted the spirit of goodwill between Mexico and the United States with an annual memorial service commemorating Emilio Carranza’s crash in New Jersey. Mel attended and participated each year until his illness would no longer allow him to travel. Mel was the President of the Grapevine Senior Center in Grapevine, Texas for 2 years. Our father was larger than life and he will be missed!
Captain Ismael “Mel” Carranza was preceded in death by his parents Don Artemio Strasburger and Carmen Ferrino Carranza; Brother’s Artemio, Hector, Eguardo, Jessie and Mike Carranza; Sister’s Rose Phynes and Azucena Moreno; and, Stepdaughter, Veronica Diaz-Burt.
He is survived by his lovely wife, Hilda Carranza. His children: Daughter, Cynthia and Tom Parker; Son, Rick and Sue Carranza; and, Stepdaughter, Monica and Jack Townsend. His Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren: Robert and Michele Lopez, Michael & Kristi; Suzanne and Chris Brown, Hudson & Lawson; Brent and Brittany Parker, Will & Riley; Adam and Summer (Chancey) Carranza; Ashley and James Mashni; Rachel Townsend, Jack Walter Townsend; Renee Townsend; Jessica Burt, Mia Yeley & Veronica McAllister.
Memorial Service information:
Visitation from 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M., Sunday, December 8, 2019 at the Lucas Funeral Home, 700 West Wall Street, Grapevine, Texas 76051; Rosary at 4:00 P.M. Lucas Funeral Home, 700 West Wall Street, Grapevine, Texas 76051; A Mass at 10:00 A. M., Monday, December 9, 2019 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 861 Wildwood Lane, Grapevine, Texas 76051. Following the mass, an internment with military honors will be held at 1:00 P.M. at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery located at 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.