1940-2023

Services for Daniel Ray Head, 83, of Tyler, were held on Friday, June 30, 2023, at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Burial was at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Head passed away Friday, June 23, 2023, in the comfort of his home in Tyler.

He was born March 13, 1940, in Murchison to Watson Daniel Head and Rozena Ballard Head. Daniel graduated from Athens High School in 1958. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in January 1959. He served in Frankfurt, Germany for his first two years. Next, he served at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene from 1961 to January 1965. Daniel then served in Vietnam for one year. After Vietnam, he served at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio for 18 months. From there, he served at RAF Chicksands in England from June 1967 to June 1971. He returned to the states to serve at the Pentagon from June 1971 to June 1976. Following his service at the Pentagon, he went to Buckley A.N.G. Base in Aurora, Colorado from July 1976 until he retired as Master Sergeant on August 1, 1980.

Following his retirement, Daniel and his family moved to Tyler where he lived the remainder of his life. While living in Tyler, he worked for the Ward Exploration Company for several years. After his years with Ward Exploration, he opened the computer repair department with Best Buy. His final career journey led him to work in the Smith County IT Department where he was instrumental in bringing the computer department in house for the Smith County IT Department in 2006. After his retirement, he continued to work part time for the Smith County IT Department.

Daniel was preceded in death by his father, Watson Daniel Head, his mother, Rozena Ballard Head, and his brothers, William Lee Head and Roy Don Head.

He is survived by his loving family including his wife, Martha Riddle Head and his two sons, Daniel Alan Head and Michael Kevin Head; his five grandchildren, Heather Spencer, Melissa Danielle Janezich, Andrew Head, William Daniel Head, and Ricky Poblete; his 14 great-grandchildren; and special longtime friend Max Scott; and many others. Pallbearers were William Daniel Head, David Allen, Ross Janezich, Ricky Poblete, David Nichols II, and Andrew Head. With deep gratitude to Dr. George Plotkin; Dr. Jeffery Carr; Tobias Rebmann ACNP, MSN; and Dr. Yvonne Baum.

Daniel will be especially remembered for his strength and integrity, his kind heart towards others, and the amazing man we all admired, loved, and adored. He will also be remembered for his protective nature of his family circle.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County, 3531 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, Texas 75701 (www.alzalliance. org).