09/27/2026
🎂 HAPPY 103RD BIRTHDAY TO A MOLINA ORIGINAL — José Flores has watched his Corpus Christi neighborhood grow around him, and his own hands helped build it.
José Flores was born September 26, 1923, and was born and raised in Corpus Christi’s Molina neighborhood.
His parents, Maria and José Cipriano Flores, were among the early families of Molina. José remembers a time when much of the area was still empty lots.
He built his own home near Angela Drive and West Point and has spent more than 80 years on Angela Drive. Then, as a self-employed residential carpenter, he went to work building homes for other families.
His daughter, Mary Lou Flores, says José helped build many of the houses throughout Molina during his years as a carpenter — and many of those homes are still standing today.
His own home survived Hurricane Celia in 1970.
José married the love of his life, Alicia Garza Flores. They were married for 55 years and built a family that today includes 8 children, 18 grandchildren, around 20 great-grandchildren and around 15 great-great-grandchildren.
Alicia passed away in 2010 at 84 years old. His family says she remained his pride and joy.
Ask José the secret to reaching 103 and his life tells much of the story: he never smoked, never drank and worked, worked, worked to provide for his family.
Even at 103, José still gets outside and goes out to eat. His eyesight has diminished, but his family says he remains healthy and able to walk and get around. He even wishes he could still drive.
His favorites?
🍤 Shrimp and egg rolls.
🎶 Vicente Fernández.
🍫 M&M’s — but no peanuts. 😂
And although José would tell you his hobby was working, his family remembers another side of him: he loved going to quinceañeras and loved to dance.
Today, José looks around Molina and realizes many of the compadres and friends with whom he shared those years are gone.
But he's still here.
The carpenter who helped build his neighborhood.
The husband who loved his wife.
The father who raised eight children.
And the patriarch of a family now stretching across five generations.
His family describes him as a dedicated husband and father who has always been there for his children — and still is today.
❤️ Corpus Christi Crónica wishes Mr. José Flores a very happy 103rd birthday!
Help us wish one of Molina’s originals a HAPPY 103RD BIRTHDAY! 🎂🎉
