John Benjamin "Pete" Damrel, Jr.

John Benjamin "Pete" Damrel, Jr.

December 4, 1924 - January 23, 2025

John Benjamin "Pete" Damrel, Jr., 100, passed peacefully among family January 23, 2025 in Greensboro, NC. Born deep in East Texas in the Big Thicket town of Remlig, Pete grew up in a succession of now-vanished lumber towns before settling in Voth, Texas just outside of Beaumont.

During WWII, Pete held the rank of lieutenant as a navigator on a B-24 "Liberator" bomber. Upon his return to Beaumont, he met Jessie Lou McCabe and they married August 15, 1946, a union that was to last 53 years until she preceded him in passing. The couple moved to Houston, where Pete attended Rice University and earned a bachelor's degree and pursued graduate studies. He then worked as a geophysical engineer at Houston Technical Laboratories, a small company eventually purchased by Texas Instruments. Pete was to spend almost his entire working career, more than 36 years, at Texas Instruments.

Graced with a probing intellect and problem-solving turn of mind, he was an accomplished and well-respected scientist known especially for his work in gravimetry. He had an irrepressible sense of humor energized by his love of language, his effervescent wit, and his fondness for inspired mischief. He had a love of reading and word-play that sustained him for nearly a century.

So many fond Damrel family memories of Pete and Jess sparkle with the joy and laughter of Sunday mornings spent together over crossword puzzles. Deeply sentimental, accepting, soft-hearted and endlessly curious, Pete had an exceptional memory and knew many more songs than his children could ever learn.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jessie Lou McCabe; daughter in-law, Victoria Leigh (née Marsellos); son Erick Randall Damrel; and grandson Zachary Wade Moushon.

Survivors include his son John B. Damrel III, of Greenville, SC; son Richard L. Damrel and grandson Austin L. Damrel of Long Beach, CA; son David W. Damrel and his wife Dixie Zank Damrel and daughter Noel Zank of Greenville, SC; son Stephen P. Damrel and his wife Karen Arnold Damrel of Greensboro, NC; granddaughter Emily Damrel and her husband Max Spiewak, of Decatur, GA; grandson Sean Damrel and his wife Mary Liz (née Horton) of Greensboro, NC; daughter Julie Damrel Moushon and her husband Daniel Moushon of Durham, NC; and grandsons Blake Moushon and his wife Morgan (née Trachtman) of Durham, NC; Chad Moushon of Charlotte, NC; and Kellen Moushon of Charlottesville, VA.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests support of Pete's charities: the Hospice Foundation of America, Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, Rice University and Lamar University. All are welcome to join the family in celebration of his life starting at 2:30 on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Friendship Cemetery in Roganville, Texas. For details about the gathering please contact Stephen Damrel at: sdamrel@protonmail.com.