L.D. "Larry" Nagel passed away at Doctors Regional Hospital on April 9, 2016. L.D., the son of Don and Lydia Nagel, was born in Round Top, TX on November 23, 1931. He excelled in sports and academics in high school and went on to Blinn Junior College on a basketball scholarship. He followed his brother, Dave, to UT in Austin to pursue an engineering degree. But, the Korean War changed that six months later when he was forced to enlist or be drafted. He chose the Navy and went on to become a radio operator after boot camp. While preparing for a six month deployment to Alaska, he received Secretary of the Navy appointment to the US Naval Academy. After graduating in 1956, he chose to go into naval aviation. He received his wings at NAS Kingsville in 1957. He remained there for another 18 months as a flight instructor. It was during this time, he met his wife, Lt (JG) Mary Louise "Lucy" Sizer at NAS Corpus Christi. They were married in her hometown, High Point, NC in 1958. Larry primarily flew single engine jets on aircraft carriers throughout his career including the USS's Antietam, Essex, Lexington, Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Independence, and Enterprise. In addition of his BS degree from the Naval Academy, he also earned another BS degree in aeronautical engineering and a MS degree in aero electronics. Most of his Naval career was associated with weapons systems in the Pentagon, Defense Nuclear Agency, Operational Test and Evaluation Force, and as Strike Operations officer aboard aircraft carriers. He also was commanding officer of VT-21 at NAS Kingsville. He was Chief of Staff for Training Air Wing Four at NAS Corpus Christi when he retired in 1982. During his time in the Navy, Larry received many awards including 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 18 Air Medals, 3 Navy Commendation Medals, the Meritorious Service medal, and numerous Campaign and Expeditionary medals. He flew 194 Combat missions during the Vietnamese War. Following retirement, he remained associated with the Navy as a flight instructor on flight simulators at NAS Kingsville. He was an avid outdoor lover and could be found fishing all over the Coastal Bend or riding his bicycle down Ocean Drive which did up until just late of last year. Later in life, he became an active member of the Corpus Christi Bridge Club where he met many new friends and became a regional master at the age of 80. He will mostly be remembered as a loving father, a kind and thoughtful friend, the greatest neighbor, somebody with a special place in his heart for children and pets, and so much more. He is survived by his two sons, Robert of Corpus Christi and Walter of Idaho. He will join his wife, Lucy, who preceded him, at Arlington National Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Seaside Funeral Home Chapel.