William Joseph "Joe" Laughlin

Joe was born in Topeka, Kansas on the 5th of September 1932, to William Richard Laughlin and Rose Amen and passed away on Monday, the 10th of September 2018, at the age of 86.

Joe graduated from St. Thomas High School, attended Notre Dame and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He entered the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and left with an Honorable Discharge as a Captain. Joe was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at the University of Texas. He was a member of the River Oaks Country Club, Allegro, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. For many years, Joe was a Lector at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. In his early years, he worked with the Houston Golf Association and later volunteered and served on the boards of Taping for the Blind, now called Sight into Sound and the St. Thomas High School Alumni Association. Joe enjoyed many outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, boating and especially golf.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Fanelle Logue and his sister Ann Laughlin Connell. Sons William “Bill” Joseph Laughlin Jr. and wife Donna, Richard Logue Laughlin and wife Monica. Grandchildren Jamie Laughlin Boknecht and husband Mark, Michael Sean Laughlin, Jordan Patrick Laughlin and wife Ceara, Heather LeAnn Quintela and husband Paul and Brittany Michelle Laughlin and partner Chelsea. Joe also had three great-grandchildren Brinley Shea Boknecht, Jack William Quintela and Cali Jane Penfield. He was preceded in death by his parents William Richard “Dick” and Rose Amen Laughlin, brother Tom Laughlin and sister Patricia Laughlin Donoho, brother and sister-in-law Tommy and Sally Morton and grandson Brendan James Laughlin. Pallbearers will be Sean Laughlin, Jordan Laughlin, Bob Connell, Tom Connell, Mike Connell, and Lyle Morton.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 14th of September, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. The recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at half-past six o’clock in the evening.

The funeral mass is to be offered at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 15th of September, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 3617 Milam Street in Houston, where the Fr. Jorge Rativa, O.P., Pastor, is to serve as celebrant.

The Rite of Committal is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in William’s memory may be directed toward St. Thomas High School, 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007; or Sight into Sound, 3935 Essex Lane, Houston, TX 77027; or to the charity of one’s choice.