James Luther Youngblood

James Luther Youngblood, born in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 14, 1930, died under hospice care following a few years of declining dementia, in Rogers, Arkansas, on March 6, 2022. He is preceded in death by his wife Katie Beth Hunter Youngblood (who died on February 1st this year), his parents Marvin Edward and Bernice Banes Youngblood, his brothers Gene and Jack and his son-in-law Rob Ashmore.

He is survived by his sister Patsy Youngblood Welch (Keefer), daughter Linda Youngblood Jones (Jim Jones); son Tom Youngblood (Cindy); daughter Carey Youngblood; and daughter Susan Youngblood Ashmore.

Grandchildren: Joan Youngblood Dorsey, Matt Youngblood, Travis Jones, Erik Jones, Katie Marie Harnden, Robert Ashmore, Julie Ashmore, David Ashmore and nine great-grandchildren.

Jim grew up in humble surroundings during the Great Depression. His father was a plumber, but work was scarce, and he kept his family fed with assistance from the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration. They raised dogs, other animals and had a cow despite living in the city. Jim recalled staking the cow out in abandoned yards and fields while he was at school. During World War Two, his parents both found jobs at Fort Worth’s Air Force Plant 4, working 7 days a week while Jim and his brothers managed the home and cow. He developed his cooking skills during that period. He attended Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth, where he ran middle distance track and did well academically, enrolling in Rice Institute (now Rice University) on an athletic and NROTC scholarship and was also active in the glee club. He was in the class of 1952 earning a BA degree in Mechanical Engineering. He met his future wife Katie Beth Hunter his senior year. He joined the Navy and served a tour of duty (1953-1956) during the Korean conflict, mostly aboard the carrier USS SAIPAN. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade and was an electrical officer of the ship. He was known as Ernie by his shipmates, as they thought he was as talented with singing and playing the ukulele as “Tennessee” Ernie Ford. This continued a life-long love of singing and playing ukulele, guitar, and mandolin. He especially loved “The Fox went out on a chilly night” and “When are We Gonna Get Married” which he and Katie sang together at all children’s and grandchildren’s weddings.

He and Katie married July 25, 1954, and he completed his naval duties in Norfolk, Virginia, and then Pensacola, Florida, where their first child Linda was born. Following his discharge, he resumed his studies at Rice using the GI Bill, earning a Masters degree and then a PhD in Metallurgy in May 1963 (the first ever awarded in that field of study) while they also had their last 3 children, Tom, Carey and Susan, having all 4 in 5 years. He loved windy days and booming fireworks for the rest of his life as they reminded him of his days in the Navy.

He then took his family of six to Wilmington, Delaware, to work for DuPont where he developed the theory explaining a particularly tough steel that DuPont patented. His wife started medical school in 1965, commuting to Philadelphia Women’s Medical College. A year later they moved back to Texas. He worked at NASA, and Katie completed her medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Initially, Jim served as the Secretary to NASA’s Board of Directors, but once metallurgical issues arose in the space program, he returned to the lab using scanning and transmission electron microscopy to analyze metal fractures (which he found happen differently in space than in Earth’s atmosphere), as well as some moon rock sample analysis. He used vacuum deposition to coat the samples for the scanning electron microscopy, which led to his thinking there could be other uses for that technique. He left NASA during the hiatus between the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs and started his own company, Gemini Detectors, where he developed and manufactured a hydrogen sulfide detector (at the time, this was the only solid state H2S detector in the world), that became very useful to the oil and gas industry. He later joined Detcon (the company that was building the housings and other support systems for his sensors), run by his friend Dan Alpha, and worked for that group until his retirement in his late 70s.

Jim was active in the Presbyterian Church as a Deacon and Elder, singing in the choir, and serving on a building committee as they built a new sanctuary for Webster Presbyterian Church, pastored by his close friend, Dean Woodruff. With his family he enjoyed camping and backpacking around the country, always bringing a rock hammer to collect samples along the way. He also gardened, especially liking succulents, staghorn ferns and had a large plumeria that he babied. He built a small greenhouse for those treasures. He fixed anything and everything whether it needed it or not, volunteered as an assistant scoutmaster with the local Boy Scout Troop, and chaperoned two Clear Lake High School choir tours to Europe, with the Symphonic Chorale directed by another dear friend, Milton Pullen.

He and Katie designed and built a great vacation home in Lake City, Colorado, inviting many friends and family to join them in fly fishing, hiking, and climbing the beautiful landscape of the San Juan mountains.

In 1995, he and Katie moved their work sites to Panorama Village north of Conroe, Texas, where he continued his work with Detcon, and Katie joined the local UTMB Area Health Education Center clinic, teaching Residents in Family Medicine. They developed many new friends there and adopted their beloved dog Minnie who basked in their love and brought much joy to their lives. In 2010, they moved to Rogers, Arkansas, to be close to their son and central to their daughters in Texas, Michigan, and Georgia. They remained there for the rest of their lives. He and Katie were very generous donors to many charities, but particularly supported Rice University (which was tuition free while they were there) as well as UTMB. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the First Presbyterian church of Rogers, 1901 South 26th St., Rogers, AR, 72758, or to Rice University. (For those who wish to do so, memorial contributions may be directed to the James L. and Katie H. Youngblood Endowed Scholarship at Rice University at the Office of Development MS-81, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251, or at giving.rice.edu.) This scholarship was developed to especially support first generation college students. Notes of sympathy can be sent to Jim’s son, Dr. Tom Youngblood at 1232 Countrywood Cr., Rogers, AR 72756.

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