Jose Mendez

Jose Mendez was born on August 10, 1948, in Brownsville, Texas, to Virginia and Elijio Mendez. He passed away on October 11, 2025, in Conroe, Texas.
Joe was a proud Army veteran, having served during the Vietnam War.
Joe married at a fairly young age, only to get divorced 16 years later, after having two children. A while passed after the divorce, at which time he met and quickly fell in love with Bula, who had four daughters of her own. They married on June 6, 1992, and combined their families. He loved them all fiercely.
Joe had several hobbies he loved very much. Early in life, he fell in love with photography and later developed a love for softball and music. During his softball years, he played, managed, or sponsored several different teams. His passion for baseball continued through supporting the Astros. His great love of music was always running through his veins. He was in his happy place when playing the drums or singing. He played in several bands, including a Go-Go band in the early years, and many others along the way. He would play with anyone who needed a sub drummer. He was also a very good singer and loved to sing karaoke, where he was known for his rendition of "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" and "My Way."
Joe loved to fix things and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with people through the years he spent working at True Value and J&B Auto Supply. He always said he was "a jack of all trades and a master of none." He was always the life of the party, like at his job with Anheuser-Busch. He would dress up as Spuds McKenzie, their mascot of the time, to give out freebies and pose for pictures.
Joe was preceded in death by his dad, Elijio; his mom, Virginia; his sister, Olivia; and his twin grandsons.
He is survived by his wife, Bula; son, Joel of Conroe; daughters, Angela (Chuck) of Amarillo, Kathy of Willis, Margaret of Conroe, Betty (Steve) of San Diego, Brenda (Andy) of Conroe; 11 grandchildren: Tori, Olivia, Amanda, Charlie, Erik, Brandon, Sean, Sarah, Megan, Hailey, and Andy; and 11 great-grandchildren: Bradley, Jaxon, Levi, Bella, Brantley, Selena, Creed, Adele, Terrel, Wade, and Adalie.
Joe lived life his way. It was difficult watching him grow older because he had such a passion for life. He also loved his kids and grandkids and was always there for them. He will be greatly missed, however we take great comfort knowing he is no longer in pain.
He will be laid to rest Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 10:30 am at the Houston National Cemetery.