James Youngblood

1930 - 2022

James Luther Youngblood, born in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 14, 1930, died after a few years of decline due to dementia, in Rogers, Arkansas, on March 6, 2022. He is preceded in death by his wife Katie Beth Hunter Youngblood (who died on February 1st this year), his parents Marvin Edward and Bernice Banes Youngblood, his brothers Gene and Jack, and his son-in-law Rob Ashmore.

He is survived by his sister Patsy Youngblood Welch (Keefer), daughter Linda Youngblood Jones (Jim); son Tom Youngblood (Cindy); daughter Carey Youngblood; and daughter Susan Youngblood Ashmore. They had eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He attended Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth, enrolled in Rice Institute, earned a BA degree in Mechanical Engineering, class of 1952. He met his wife Katie Beth Hunter his senior year. He joined the Navy during the Korean conflict (1953-1956), married July 25, 1954, and resumed his studies at Rice, earning a Masters degree and his PhD degree in Metallurgy in May 1963. They had 4 children within 5 years.

They moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where Jim worked for DuPont. His wife started medical school in 1965. A year later they moved to Clear Lake City, Texas, where he worked at NASA and Katie completed her medical degree and started her career. He left NASA and started his own company, Gemini Detectors, where he developed and manufactured a hydrogen sulfide detector, at the time this was the only solid state H2S detector in the world. He later joined Detcon, run by his friend Dan Alpha. In 1995, he and Katie moved their work sites to Panorama Village north of Conroe, Texas, where he continued with Detcon. In 2010, they retired to Rogers, Arkansas, remaining there for the rest of their lives.

Jim was active in the Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed camping, backpacking, gardening, volunteering as an assistant scoutmaster with the local Boy Scout Troop, and chaperoned two Clear Lake High School choir tours to Europe, with the Symphonic Chorale directed by another dear friend, Milton Pullen. He had a lifelong love of folk music, playing multiple string instruments, and singing with his family at all their gatherings.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the First Presbyterian church of Rogers, 1901 South 26th St., Rogers, AR, 72758, or to Rice University's James L. and Katie H. Youngblood Endowed Scholarship, Office of Development MS-81, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251, or at giving.rice.edu

Notes of sympathy can be sent to Jim's son, Dr. Tom Youngblood at 1232 Countrywood Cr., Rogers, AR 72756, and fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.RollinsFuneral.com for the Youngblood family.

A more colorful and thorough obituary is posted at www.RollinsFuneral.com, search there for Youngblood for both of their obituaries.