March 5, 1931-February 28, 2020
It is with great sadness, but significant love, that the family of Joe Herbert Eaves, of Copperas Cove, Texas announces his passing on February 28, 2020, at the age of 88. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina to Herbert Eaves and Daisy Brown Eaves on March 5, 1931. He was one of 11 children (John, Eugene, Mattie Lou, James, Julia, William, Mildred, Vernice, Ruby and Lola) of whom he was the last surviving sibling. Joe enlisted in the United States Army in 1948, but because he was underage and had not yet finished high school, his mother had to sign for him to enlist. He then earned his GED while in the Army. Joe was a proud veteran of the Korean War and the Vietnam War where he served two tours and earned a Purple Heart for his valor on the battlefield. He retired after 23 years with the military as a SSgt. while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and went on to serve briefly with the Killeen Police Department and then 14 years with the Texas Department of Corrections. He also completed some course work under the G.I. Bill at Central Texas University.
In 1957, while he was serving with the military in the Republic of Panama, he met Katherine Dorothy Quinlan who was the eldest of 10 children. With his love, Dorothy, he had 4 children: Danille Dillon (Kevin), Angela Eaves, Lance Eaves, and Sean Eaves (Jason). They were happily married for 52 years before she predeceased him in 2009. Joe was also a proud grandfather of Kevin McConaughey, Jr. (Tara), and 2 great grandchildren, Olivia and Cove.
Joe loved watching western movies, court television, and wrestling, and enjoyed regaling family and friends with many stories of his experiences in the army and the correctional system. He was also a proud congregant of Holy Family Catholic Church in Copperas Cove where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe supported many organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In addition to his immediate family, Joe is also lovingly remembered by a host of friends and family members all across the country, especially his nephew, Turner Sumpter, Jr.
Joe will be celebrated by a viewing at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove, Texas on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., followed by a mass celebrated on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church. Following the funeral mass, he will be laid to rest with full military honors at 3:00 p.m. at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery where his wife, Dorothy, will be interred with him.
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