Joel Sheldon Needle

Joel was born to Moe and Pauline (Kowalsky) Needle in Brooklyn, New York. He and his younger sister Eileen spent their childhood growing up in New York and Florida. Joel graduated from John Adams High School in Queens in 1953. After graduating, he attended Hunter College and Manhattan Technical School. He subsequently worked for General Electric, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard before enlisting in US Army in 1957. After Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Joel was assigned to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas where he served until June of 1960.

Joel met the love of his life Belen Fuentes while stationed at Fort Bliss and they were married on January 16, 1960. Joel and Billie made El Paso their home for 60 years where they raised their three children: Diane, Laura, and Martin. Joel began a career in the life insurance industry in 1960 working for Lincoln National Life, National Life/American General, and Western & Southern until he retired in 1995. Joel was the recipient of various awards and honors throughout his insurance career. After retirement, Joel was never one to sit and be idle so he began a 10 year career with the U. S. Census Bureau. Joel and Billie remained in El Paso until 2019 when they relocated to Houston, Texas to be near their son and family.

Joel is survived by Belen, his beautiful wife of 63 years, their two daughters, Diane Needle of Deerfield Beach, Florida, Laura Needle Williams and her husband Dr. John Williams of Scottsdale, Arizona, and their son, Martin Needle and his wife Laura Romo Needle of Houston, Texas. He was also a proud grandfather to seven grandchildren: Adam (Perisa) Williams, Ryan (Christina) Gutierrez-Williams, Scott (Amy) Williams, David Needle, Jessica Needle, Marcos Needle, Sebastian Needle; and one great granddaughter, Rüya Ruhi-Williams (Adam and Perisa). He is also survived by his brother-in-law Mel Epstein, nieces Meryl Epstein and Dina Epstein (Fred Eisenstein), and nephew Dr. David Epstein. Joel was preceded in death by his parents Moe and Pauline Needle, his sister Eileen (Needle) Epstein, and his nephew Robert Epstein.

Joel was strong willed, with an enormous heart and a wonderful sense of humor. He was generous, loyal, clever and completely and totally dedicated to his family. His audacious attitude, brazen energy, and unyielding support will be dearly missed.

A visitation for Joel will be held Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 10am - 1 pm at Brookside Funeral Home-Cypress Creek, 9149 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77095. An internment with military honors will occur Friday, September 1, 2023 at 10:15 am at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Joel's name to the charity of your choice.

We love you dad. You will be forever in our hearts.