Joe Cooper Lochridge

Joe Cooper Lochridge, 84, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 18, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Joe was happily married for 53 years to Caroline Kubala. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother.

Joe was born in Waco, Texas on June 13, 1932 to Cooper Malcolm Lochridge and Zava Mae Waldrop Lochridge (Deeda). He married Caroline in East Bernard, TX on May 5, 1963.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rice Institute in 1954, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1959. In between earning his two degrees, he served for four years in the Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.

Joe worked for Brown & Root for 30 years, working his way up to Vice President. He earned the Pipeliner of the Year award in 1981 and a Pioneer Award from the Offshore Energy Center Technology Hall of Fame for his work on Mohole. He was a member of the Texas Professor Engineers, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Brown & Root Retirees Association, and the Lokrig Association.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law James (Froggy) Williams, sister-in-law Fran Morgan, and nephew Timothy Gubbels.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters – Laura and Ann, son Darren and his wife Kim, four grandchildren – Chase Reyna, Andrew Lochridge, Ryan Reyna, and Erminie Reyna, sister Robbie Williams, brother-in-law Mark Kubala, sister-in-law Pauline Gubbels and her husband Matt, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cooper M. & Zava Waldrop Lochridge Scholarship in Administration, Jones Graduate School of Business. Rice University, Attn: Kathleen Schieffelin, Assistant Dean of External Relations, P.O. Box 2932, Houston, TX, 77252.

Visitation will take place Sunday, January 22, 2017 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079. Visitation is 6 pm, Rosary 7 pm. Funeral Service is Monday, January 23 at 10 am at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home.