Jack William Pool

Jack is Survived by his wife of 63 plus years, Mary Alice (Chambless) Pool, brother Andrew Pool and sister Sherrill Pool; daughters, Susan Elizabeth (Pool) Basse and husband Rick Basse, Alexandra Lyn (Pool) Anderson and husband Caesar Anderson, Beatrice Lenae (Pool) Hinsley; grandchildren Christian Basse and wife Emily (Brucks) Basse, Corey Basse and wife Valerie (Medina) Basse, Caleb Basse, Lisa Basse, Steven Brown, Jack Darryl Brown, Myles Brown, Amillia Anderson, Jayden Anderson, Jorden Anderson, Jacob Anderson, Patrick Anderson, Sullivan Anderson, Liam Anderson, Wayne Hinsley, Philip Hinsley, and Darren Hinsley: Great Grandchildren Evelyn Basse and Henry Basse.

He is preceded in death by his parents S.A. Pool and Dorothy (Sack) Pool and son Jack William (Billy)Pool Jr.

He was born in San Antonio, Texas May 28, 1933 to S. A. Pool and Dorothy (Sack) Pool. His childhood was spent in the care of his Grandmother, who he lovingly called Gram in San Antonio TX. He grew up in a lovely area of San Antonio near San Pedro Park. Some how he ended up skipping a grade meaning he graduated on the day he was 17 yrs. old. He attended Mark Twain Middle School and Graduated from the beautiful Thomas Jefferson High School. He was a “Can Do” kind of person. He competed in diving and figure skating. He played Drums in the Thomas Jefferson Marching Band, while having a newspaper route and working for the pharmacy as a delivery boy.

Jack Joined the US Navy at 17 and served as an engineering assistant on the Tanker USS Guadalupe during the Korean War. Once out of the Navy, he went to Texas A & M, not before attending summer school at San Antonio College where he fell in love with the delightful Mary Alice Chambless. Jack and Mary Alice were married June 20th 1958 in First United Methodist Church in San Antonio, TX. Jack earned both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering and was the class of 1960 from Texas A&M. He started out his career working for Motorola in Arizona, then TRW in the Clear Lake area near Houston. He proudly worked on the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing as an Operations Engineer and received a Snoopy pin and letters of appreciation for his contribution to the historical landing of astronauts on the moon in 1969, he eventually returned to San Antonio to take over as CEO of Farm & Ranch Service Company. He designed one of the first houses to use rainwater collection to supplement the water supply in the Parade of Homes. He was contracted by the government to build concrete storage buildings and water storage for public property facilities and many farms and ranches have concrete water storage tanks to house their water supplies throughout Texas.

Jack loved the ocean and had many boats throughout his lifetime including a shrimp boat. He owned and piloted his own personal airplane and helicopter. He went on many adventures to see the world during his life in the US Navy and with his family. He was an Eagle Scout and served as the Boy Scout Commissioner. He was a Free Mason serving as a Grand Master. He sat in the floor with other engineers and astronaut Daddies with their little sons at Indian Guides. He Faithfully attended Little League games and choir concerts, and football games cheering on the Marching Band and Dance teams. He even went to Longhorn football games for his daughter’s sake (but he did not cheer for them to win). He attended many cold, rainy, and muddy stock shows and was always a buyer at the auctions. When he retired Jack served as a Lay Minister for the United Methodist Church and Ministered to Inmates in the Prisons to help fallen men know Jesus. He loved singing in the La Vernia United Methodist Church Choir and he loved reading and studying his Bible and leading Bible Studies, which he did while in Assisted Living. Jack adored Mary Alice Chambless from the moment he laid eyes on her. His life was devoted to her and he cared for her throughout her lengthy suffering with Alzheimer’s Disease. Jack loved his children and their friends, he cherished his grandchildren and he was so in awe of his great grandchildren. Jack was a mathematical genius. He was brave and wise and always encouraging. Jack was fun and funny and fabulous. He lived an abundant life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or the Charity of your choice. The family and friends are extremely grateful to the amazing and selfless caregivers of Embrace Hospice and Elan Assisted and Memory Care.

Visitation will begin Saturday February 18th at 9 am at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery. The Funeral Service and celebration of Jack’s life will take place at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery on Austin Hwy. in San Antonio, Texas at 10:30 am in the Chapel with Visitation prior to that at 9:30 am. After the graveside service the family would like to invite those in attendance to share refreshments and fellowship.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com for the Pool family.