Loretta Solomon Es

Flora Loretta Solomon Reves, age 89, passed away on March 14, 2023.

Loretta was born in Chattanooga, TN on March 11, 1934, to James Elmer Solomon and Ellar Alda Bertha Harbison Solomon. A graduate of Graham High ('52) in Graham, TX and North Texas State College ('56), earning a M. Ed. from the latter, she spent almost four decades of her professional life teaching English, literature and journalism to elementary, high school and college students. In 1965, Loretta married Orlandis Prentes "Patrick" Reves, Ph. D., of Sinton, TX, who preceded her in death in 1995. Together, Patrick and Loretta traveled the world together. Loretta was chased by monkeys in India, mistakenly deported from Brazil to Argentina, taught English and delivered Gideon Bibles in China, studied art in Rome, and walked the hallowed halls of Cambridge College with her sister, Judy Solomon Brown.

Loretta is the beloved mother of the Hon. James Wade Birdwell, Justice, Second Court of Appeals, and the Hon. Brian Douglas Birdwell, Texas State Senator and Lt. Col. (Ret.), U. S. Army. She is survived by Justice Birdwell, his wife, Elizabeth, their son, Nicholas, and their daughter, Alexandra and her husband, Zachary Bryan; by Senator Birdwell, his wife, Melva, their son, Matthew and his wife, Ann Marie and their children, Elijah and Lily; and by her sister, Judy, her daughter, Deborah Vasterling and her son, Jonathan. She was preceded in death by her brother, James Arthur Solomon.

Loretta was a long-time member of Sar Shalom/Prince of Peace, a Messianic Jewish Congregation in Arlington, TX. Loretta loved the Lord and, when asked, always confirmed, "Jesus loves me."

Visitation will be held Friday, March 17, 2023 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Lucas Funeral Home in Grapevine, TX.

Services for Loretta Reves will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 12:00 PM at First United Methodist Church of Grapevine with Reverend Grant Palma (FUMC of Grapevine) and Pastor Susan Forshey of Sar Shalom/Prince of Peace officiating. Interment will follow at Pioneer Cemetery in Graham, Texas at 3:30 PM, with Pastor Forshey officiating.

For those so inclined, in lieu of flowers, Loretta's family requests a donation to The Gideons International, www.gideons.org , for the placement and distribution of Bibles and New Testaments.