Joe Coltharp

Joe Coltharp, 97, died peacefully from natural causes in Austin, Texas, on April 19, 2010. He was a resident of Austin, Texas for 75 years. Joe was born December 13, 1912 in Iredell, Texas to Marcellus and Dove (Blankenship) Coltharp. He grew up on the family farm in the community of Turnersville, Coryell County Texas. The Coltharp place was well known in the community for the pet alligator kept in the cement tank and the fenced-in yard with all manner of flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Joe never forgot the country values of his family and his neighbors. He embodied those values throughout his life as he demonstrated faith, love of family, service to the community, and generosity. Everyone who knew him was inspired by his endless curiosity and enthusiasm over the wonders of nature, the beauty of music, and how mechanical apparatuses worked. He was an honorable man who believed that business should be done on a handshake and a man's word. For over 60 years, the Coltharp farm has only had 3 tenant leases based on a handshake. He started his lifelong journey of learning and education barefooted at the two room school house in the community of Buster, Texas, where he suffered the indignity of being taught by his older sister. He later attended the Turnersville School and graduated from Gatesville High School in 1930. He moved to Austin in the mid 1930's to attend the University of Texas and joined the University Baptist Church of Austin, where he remained a member until his death. As a "farm boy" in the Depression era, he began working at the university to pay his way. Joe always said he started at the top because his first job at the university was cleaning pigeon droppings off the roofs of the Little Campus buildings. After the Visual Instruction Bureau's photographer quit, Joe applied for the job and started on a long career as a photographer. He was a member of the Greatest Generation and enlisted in the United States Army in June 1942. He served as a Technical Sergeant with the 33Rd Fighter Control Squadron on many Pacific Islands, including landings at Wake Island, Mindoro, and Luzon. He helped maintain radar warning installations on a string of enemy held islands stretching from New Guinea to the Philippines. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon with 4 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead, Philippines Liberation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon, 1 Service Stripe, and 5 Overseas Service Bars. After the war, Joe returned to the University of Texas as both a student and employee. He obtained his BS in Education in 1952 and MS in Education in 1956. He continued to work for Instruction Bureau as a photographer. During his tenure at UT he filmed the football games for 18 years and took photos of many University events. He served as the Curator of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center's internationally renowned photography collections from 1969 to 1977. He retired after 42 years of faithful service and remained a loyal Texas Longhorn. Joe was a remarkable man who traveled the world. His love of Texas lore, history, and the flora and fauna of the state is well known. He spent many hours traveling the back roads of Texas taking photographs of wildflowers and unusual Texas sights. He amassed over 8000 photos during his travels and donated over 850 slides of wildflowers to UT. One of the traits that followed him off the farm was his love of telling stories. He was a gifted story teller and would captivate anyone within earshot with his "liar's stories". Joe had the ability to cultivate the humor out of life's occurrences and weave an enduring story. His humor and practical jokes coupled with his knowledge of Texas lore made him the favorite Uncle to generations of his beloved family. Joe always said that the first liar doesn't stand a chance when telling stories. He wrote many of the farm stories in a non-published book called "Tall Tales from Turnersville", which he would not publish because he did not want to offend anyone still living. Joe is the last of the Coltharps that were raised on the family farm. He was predeceased by his parents Marcellus and Dove and 11 siblings. As a testament to the family's strength, all 8 children who survived childhood, went on to obtain professional degrees in Education, Nursing, Engineering, and Medicine. Their parents wanted the children off the farm so they could have a better life. Our favorite Uncle Joe is survived by 15 nieces and nephews, Frances McDougall, Barbara Stallings, Marcellus Coltharp, Azilee Monroe, Myrtis Thompson, Dove Coltharp, Thomas Coltharp, Marcella Swenson, Patricia Colley, Anne Mayhew, Janice Mayhew, Joe Mayhew, Kathleen Cook, Craig Coltharp, and Nancy Coltharp Goodman. He is survived by his longtime friends, David Smith, Buddy and Faye Barns and by his special friend of over 60 years, Amy Jo Long. No words can convey the family's appreciation for the love and support they gave to our beloved Uncle Joe over the many years. Please come and celebrate Joe's life with family and friends. Visitation will be held Friday, April 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 11 a.m. These events will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish, 3125 North Lamar, Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. There will be a reception following the service. Joe decided many years ago that he wanted his ashes placed at both the Coltharp farm and the family plot at the Turnersville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be sent to The Turnersville Cemetery Memorial Fund, C/O Charlotte Cheatham, 1511 West Main Street, #1003 Gatesville, TX 76528 or Buckner Villas, 11110 Tom Adams Drive, Austin, Texas 78753. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Buckner Villas for the loving care they showed to Joe and we hope they will recover from the many pranks, stories, and music lessons he bestowed on them over the past 5-1/2 years.