James Martin Catron Jr.

James Martin Catron, Jr., lovingly known as "Jim", passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the age of 81. A lifelong resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, he is still deeply loved and is greatly missed. He was married to the love of his life, Cynthia Benedict for 53 years, and together they built a life filled with love, family, and faith.

Born and raised in Corpus Christi, he was the son of James Martin Catron, Sr. and Anne Marie Yuran, who both came from Pennsylvania before settling in Texas to raise their family. He graduated from Corpus Christi Academy in 1962 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in American History from Texas A&I University in 1966.

In 1971, he married Cynthia Benedict at Saint Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. Together, they raised four children and shared a love that shaped their family and home. In 2021, Jim and Cynthia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together, marked by a heartfelt mass and a small celebration from their home. It was a deeply meaningful milestone for the couple, and they were grateful to share that special moment side by side.

He dedicated his professional life to education, teaching history and geography until his retirement in 2002. His passion for these subjects extended well beyond the classroom, shaping his interests and conversations over his lifetime. A devout Catholic, he served as an altar server at Christ the King Catholic Church and remained active in the Catholic community throughout his life. During college, he worked at the Corpus Christi Public Library, and later, he served on the Corpus Christi Landmark Commission.

Jim had a remarkable ability to form meaningful friendships, whether in childhood, college, during his teaching career, or in retirement. He made friends wherever he went and was intentional about keeping in touch with those who meant the most to him.

Jim had a lifelong passion for baseball—growing up playing the sport, collecting baseball cards, and cheering on his favorite teams, the Houston Astros and Corpus Christi Hooks. He especially loved attending Hooks games with family and friends. He had a love for animals, especially cats—even teaching one of his cats how to play fetch, a reflection of his playful nature. He enjoyed watching Jeopardy! and rarely missed an episode, often turning it into a lively family competition as everyone raced to answer each question first. Known for his sense of humor and warmth, he loved telling jokes and especially enjoyed quoting Yogi Berra—combining his love of baseball and wit into one. He also loved playing poker, whether hosting friends for a game night or teaching his family new poker games and strategies. Sometimes the rules became so complex that only Jim knew who had won—and more often than not, it was Jim. He also found joy in gardening, where he grew a variety of fruits, vegetables, and roses. He loved teaching his grandchildren how to tell when things were ripe and letting them pick what was ready. Above all, spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and granddogs brought him the most joy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Anne Catron; and his sister, Sr. Rachel Christine “Tina” Catron.

Jim continues to be a source of love and inspiration for his wife, Cynthia Catron; his children, Jennifer, Jessica, Richard, and Angela; and his grandchildren, William, Maura, Ellie, and Gwynn.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Houston, Texas, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Services for Jim will be held on Friday, June 6, 2025, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 3350 S Alameda St, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411. The Holy Rosary will begin at 12:30 PM, followed by the Funeral Mass at 1:00 PM. A committal and interment will take place at 3:00 PM at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. Please note that the committal will be outdoors, so we encourage guests to dress comfortably for the summer heat.

A reception will follow back at St. Patrick’s in Our Lady of Knock Hall, located behind the back parking lot of the church.