He was a promising high school athlete and earned a football scholarship to Baylor University in 1954, playing offensive line and going all the way to the Sugar Bowl to defeat Tennessee in 1956. Dad was also a member of the Air Force ROTC while at Baylor and during summers, he and his teammates worked roughnecking in the oil fields of Oklahoma. Joe Bob entered the Air Force in December 1958 and served as a KC-135 tanker pilot at Bergstrom AFB in Austin and Minot AFB in North Dakota, doing tours in Vietnam.

While on-call, the young lieutenant attended a party on the University of Texas campus. A young female student at the same party looked around the room to find the most trustworthy- looking gentleman to get her home after her blind date got a little too tipsy for her liking in a poker game. Three months later, Joe Bob and Mary Elaine Naismith were married in Belton, Texas on August 26, 1961. Both young, intelligent and adventurous, they thoroughly enjoyed the responsibility and excitement the Air Force offered, moving to other states and visiting countries while forming the type of friendships you only hear about in the military – a genuine bond founded on brotherhood, duty, and an endless supply of shared stories and experiences.

They welcomed their first child, Karen Elizabeth, on July 1, 1963 in Austin and their next two children, Robert Naismith and Rebecca Clare were born in Chicago on May 3, 1967 and August 18, 1969, respectively. While stationed at Minot AFB, he saw a recruiting notice from United Airlines in the Officers’ Quarters. While he loved being in the Air Force, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity United would provide for his family; he moved the family to Chicago where he began his United Air Lines career as a Boeing 727 Flight Engineer.

Dad was re-assigned to San Francisco in 1971 where the family would live for over 10 years. California was a playground for Dad – taking us camping riding dirt bikes in the Sierra Mountains and spending endless seasons at our cabin in Lake Tahoe, skiing in the winters and fishing and swimming in the summers. However, you can take the boy out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the boy. The draw to get back home grew stronger and they finally made the move to their forever home “up on the hill” near Boerne in July 1983. Dad spent over 30 years with United, rising to become a 767 Captain, commanding long-haul flights across Asia and always getting his crew and hundreds of souls on his flights to their destination safely.

Dad had six adoring, talented and fun-loving grandkids who were each blessed with the best of Grandpa’s traits. In 1997, our mother passed away far too young, but this was one of the many times Dad showed his resilience and optimism when life threw him curve balls. After 36 years of marriage, Dad looked forward, leaned on faith, family and friends, and in short order, fell head over heels for his dear companion and friend, Sandra Diane Spokely. Like two kids in a candy store, with retirement in full swing, they set off on a decade of adventure, traveling to Thailand, Spain, cruising near and far, golfing, enjoying their timeshare in Palm Springs, gardening up on the hill, and hosting endless parties with their fun-loving group of friends. They had a ball wherever they went – they were truly a gift to each other, and to us.

Dad and Sandy were married nearly 15 years until her passing from a chronic illness in 2013, leaving him heartbroken. But Dad was lucky in love and was instantly smitten when he met Edwina Scarborough, whom he fondly called his “Peach” for her Georgia roots. Dad was excited to take Edwina to his favorite places, from Mendocino to Alaska, and they spent the next years embracing each other’s kids and grandkids and growing in faith together with their parish family at St. Helena’s in Boerne.

You always knew where you stood with Dad – he would sternly make clear when he didn’t approve, and he would unabashedly cry when emotions got the better of him. His southern one-liners were legendary as was his notoriously frugal ways. Not surprising for someone born in the 1930’s, he’d drive across town to get the best price on gas or the best deal at Costco, and as his best friend Carl can tell you, if he beat you out of a dollar after an 18-hole round of golf, he’d bug you until you paid up!

It goes without saying Joe Bob leaves a Texas- sized hole in the hearts of all who loved him. He was the best Dad, Grandpa, neighbor and friend anyone could ask for, and we are so grateful to God for him, and for a life well-lived for nearly 90 years. He is survived by his children: Karen West Booth (John) of Little River Academy, TX, Robert Cudd (Melissa) of Jacksonville, TX, and Rebecca Geier (Tim) of Johnson City, TX as well as six grandchildren: Cody West (Lauren), Cade West (Ainslie), Mason Cudd, Meagan Cudd Clark (Parker), Mollie Geier and First Lieutenant Cooper Geier, U.S. Space Force.

A memorial rosary will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday July 10, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at a later date.

Following the service, all are invited to join the family for a reception and luncheon lovingly hosted by the Women’s Circle of Good Shepherd.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation or Good Shepherd Catholic Church.