Joseph Cecil Baumbach

1922 - 2021

Joe was born at his parents' home at 2203 Hardy Street in Houston, Texas on October 27, 1922. He was the third and last child of William J. Baumbach and Lee Nora Frels. He had one brother, Emmet R. Baumbach and one sister, Lillian Baumbach Reid. After the death of his mother in an accident when he was 4 1/2 years old, and he moved next door to be raised by his grandmother, Josephine Frels. Joe attended schools on the North Side including Holy Name Catholic School, Sherman Elementary School and Marshall Middle School. He was not known for his academics as much as he was for his antics, getting sent home from school for eating a garlic sandwich and for hiding his skates under the steps so that he could easily go skating instead of going to the library to study. During his junior and senior years at Jefferson Davis High School he played football and was known as "Stumbling Joe" for his less than graceful touchdowns. He graduated from Davis High School in 1940.

In the fall of 1940, Joe enrolled at Texas A&M University and attended for 4 semesters before deciding to join the United States Marine Corps in the fall of 1942. He served in World War II with the 1St Armored Amphibian Battalion and was active in battles in the South Pacific for 3 years before returning to Houston. In 1946 he met Marie Thompson and they married in August 1946. Their only son, Craig was born in 1959.

Joe went to work for Shell Oil Company in Deer Park in 1948 and would continue working at Shell until retiring in 1984, with the exception of a return to the Marine Corps as a Drill Sergeant at Camp Pendleton during the Korean War from 1950 - 1952.

Joe loved to hunt deer and elk, play Texas Hold 'Em, doing fix-it projects and woodworking. He liked to say that he "made toothpicks out of two by fours" although he built many beautiful pieces for furniture over the years. He was also active with the Shell Retiree's Club, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and the USMC 1st Armored Amphibian Battalion Reunion Group, and was a member of St. Hyacinth's Catholic Church in Deer Park.

He was preceded in death by most of his family and friends, by his wife of 47 years, Marie Thompson Baumbach, and by his wife of 7 years, Cecilia Lockwood Baumbach. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Verna Hogan Baumbach of Pasadena, his son Craig Baumbach of Houston, his Hogan step-children, Brenda Spain, Susan Ivens, Terry Hogan and Tammy Bowers, their children and grandchildren, his nephew Michael Reid, and the many members of the Thompson Family.

Joe was laid to rest in a private service at Hollywood Cemetery in Houston.

Semper Fi Papa ~ CB