George Joe

1943 - 2023

George Joe
February 22, 1943 - August 24, 2023
Fort Worth, Texas - Dr. George Washington Joe, loving brother, uncle, friend, and devoted scientist, passed away on August 24th, 2023 at age of 80.
George was born on February 22nd, 1943 in Augusta, Georgia to Jim Hung Joe and Wong Gum Liu (Rose). He attended Aquinas High School and Augusta College, graduating from the University of Georgia with a bachelors degree and intending to teach mathematics. Instead he pursued graduate study in research design, and received a Doctorate of Education from the University of Georgia.
George joined the Institute of Behavioral Research at Texas Christian University as a Research Scientist in 1969, and devoted the rest of his 54-year career to researching drug addiction treatment, efficacy models, and the etiology of drug abuse. He wrote and published several books on his research findings, and over a hundred professional journal publications. He was a member of the NIDA Treatment Research Subcommittee and Special Emphasis Panels. George was devoted to his work, contributing greatly to scientific understanding of how to treat drug addiction. And besides his professional role at the IBR, he considered it his family too.
He took a very active role at St. John's Anglican Church, faithfully serving as usher and attending weekly Bible study. He especially enjoyed the coffee times after service every Sunday.
George had a passion for music and classic Hollywood films. He loved musicals, especially movies featuring stars like Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, who were among his favorites. He reveled in the musical heyday of the three decades following those early loves.
He also loved sports, especially football and basketball, faithfully and fervently following the Georgia Bulldogs and TCU Horned Frogs football as well as the Tom Landry Dallas Cowboys. He was definitely conflicted when UGA played TCU.
George was known for his quiet humility, goofy sense of humor, and egoless generosity toward everyone around him. He was a steadfast friend and companion to many, going out of his way to be present for his family, friends, colleagues, and beloved church community.
George was preceded in death by his father, mother, step-mother Sheung Wah Joe, sister Anne (Joe) Heist, and very special friend Dr. Jack Turner. He is survived by his sister Rose Mary; brothers-in-law Greg Heist and William Larson; nephews Brian Heist, Andrew Heist, and Stephen Larson and their loving families; nieces Anne-Margaret (Larson) Hodge and Sonya Larson and their loving families, as well as very special friend Barbara Turner.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 16th, 2023 at St. John's Church, 2401 College Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76110.
Donations may be sent to either Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County at P.O. Box 1957, Fort Worth, TX 76101, or to St. John's Anglican Church (address above). No flowers, please.