J.J. De La Garza

J.J. (JOE) DE LA GARZA, 86, was born in San Antonio, Texas on February 16, 1919 and died in Houston, Texas on May 5, 2005. Joe graduated from St. Henry's Academy in San Antonio and moved to Sinton, Texas in the late 1930's to work for Plymouth Oil Company. Following the Pearl Harbor attack and entry of the U.S. into World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in early 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He served as a B-17 navigator, stationed with flying units in North Africa and Italy. After discharge from active duty as a captain in 1946, he returned to his job with Plymouth Oil in Sinton. He lived there until 1961 when he relocated to Houston as Plymouth was purchased by what is now known as Marathon Oil Company. Joe retired from Marathon as Southwest Region Property Tax Manager in 1984 after a 47-year career. While in Sinton, he was active in the VFW, Boy Scouts, Little and Pony League baseball programs, and in local Republican Party politics. He was a baseball and sports fan, serving as the scorekeeper for the Plymouth Oilers Baseball Club and as a "stringer", covering Sinton high school teams for the Corpus Christi Caller Times. He served as a Republican precinct chairman in Houston and as president of the Cutten Green Municipal Utility District and was a member of the Petroleum Club of Houston and the Cypress Civic Association. He was also an honorary deputy sheriff of Pecos County, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte (Sue) of Houston; a son, John, Jr.and wife, Dorothy of Austin; daughters, Charlotte Brown of Bay City, Texas, Connie Stavinoba of Houston; grandchildren, Frances Thompson and husband, Robin of Austin, John, III and wife, Kathy of Dallas, Susanna Brown and husband, Scott of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Katharine of Austin, Shannon and Colin of Houston; and great-grandchildren, Davison and Dorothy Thompson of Dallas, Jamison Brown of Ann Arbor, Ashley Thompson of St. Cloud, Florida, and Zachary Borgsmiller of Houston. Visitation and a Vigil will be held Monday, May 9, 2005 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Cypress-Fairbanks Funeral Home, 9926 Jones Road, Houston (281) 897-9823. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. in the Houston National Cemetery Chapel, 10410 Veteran's Memorial Drive with burial to follow. Friends are cordially invited to a Reception on the Veranda at Cypress-Fairbanks Funeral Home following the Funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Hospice organization of your choice. The family also wishes to thank the Silverado Senior Living Community at Cypresswood, especially devoted care-givers Annie and Veronica, and Life's Solutions Hospice, Inc. of Houston, for all their loving care. Online tributes to family at www.cyfairfunerals.com.