Joseph Guy Thibodaux, Jr.

Joseph Guy Thibodaux, Jr., loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on April 26, 2016 in Houston, TX. Guy was born in Verett Parish, Louisiana on November 27, 1921 to Joseph Guy Thibodaux and Leone Falterman Thibodaux. He is survived by his sister, Joan Jones; his loving wife of 66 years, Mary Jo Goliwas Thibodaux; children Joseph Guy Thibodaux III, Patrick Dean Thibodaux and wife Bonnie Ulrich Thibodaux, and Christopher Jay Thibodaux; his grandchildren Jeremiah Friedenbach, Joshua Friedenbach, Jaime Slack, Amber Obermoeller, Jacqueline Thibodaux, and Jocelyn Thibodaux Slater; his great-grandchildren Christen Gerber, Michael Gerber, River Scott, Brage Slack, Cohen Slack, and Tristan De Luna; and his great-great-grandchild Easton McKaughan. He was preceded in death by his children John Thibodaux, Amy Jeannine Thibodaux and Timothy Thibodaux and his granddaughter, Jace Renee Benefield. Guy attended grade school in New Orleans, Louisiana and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University in 1942. During his time at LSU, he was a cadet in the Army ROTC. Upon graduation, Guy served as an Officer in the Army Corps of Engineers and was stationed in Burma during World War II where he played an instrumental role in the construction of the Ledo and Burma Roads. Following his return home from the war, Guy began his extraordinary professional career in 1946 as an Aeronautical Research Scientist in the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronauticals in Newport News, Virginia. In 1964, Guy and his family moved to Houston, TX where he assumed the role of Chief of the Propulsion and Power Division at the Johnson Space Center until his retirement in 1980. Guy holds five patents on solid rockets and solid rocket manufacturing techniques. He has specialized in the fields of vehicle propulsion, liquid rockets, thermal protection, high temperature materials, meteoroid and impact phenomena, thermal arc technology, flight test technology and pyrotechnics. Guy received many accolades, including the James H. Wylde Award for Propulsion, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and his induction into the LSU Engineering Hall of Distinction in 2005. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on Saturday, May 21st at 2:00 PM at the Forest Park East Funeral Home in Webster, TX. In lieu of floral arrangements or other remembrances, the family request donations go to the newly created LSU Foundation for the Joseph Guy Thibodaux Memorial Fund. Make checks payable to LSU Foundation noting Joseph Guy Thibodaux Memorial Fund and remit to LSU Foundation 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. Online donations accepted at www.lsufoundation.org/thibodaux