Melvin James Wrubel

Melvin James Wrubel, born March 12, 1943, passed away in the early morning of June 12, 2026. Jimmy was born in Austin, TX to Adolph Wrubel and Anna Elizabeth Bucher. The family lived on a small rural farm in Mahaw, southeast of Austin and halfway to Lockhart. One weekend they would travel to Lockhart, and the next to Austin. During such a trip, the family visited some family friends, who had just welcomed a beautiful, blond baby girl, named Mary Lynn Patterson. During the trip, Mildred, Mary’s mother, gave the two-year-old little boy the nickname, Little Jimmy, a name which he would carry for the rest of his life, dropping “Little” when his father passed in 1951. At that time, Jimmy and Anna, his mother, moved to the South Austin area, near his grandmother. Jimmy attended Becker Elementary School, where he proudly wore the badge of Safety Patrol, Fulmore Jr. High, and Wm. B. Travis High School. Jimmy had developed a love of fast cars and loved drag racing. He went to work with his older brother, “Fat Boy”, at the Chrysler Dealership, where he learned about transmissions and strengthened his automotive and mechanical skills.

On February 12, 1966, Jimmy and Mary Lynn were married at the old First Baptist Church of Austin. Jimmy continued working on cars, and Mary worked at the State Library. In 1969, their daughter, Jennifer Lynn, was born, and the family was completed in January of 1971, when a son, Kenney James (Bubba) was born. Jimmy and Mary were not playing with dolls anymore. They had real ones to dress and love and play with. In September of 1972, the young family moved to a home at the edge of South Austin, on Newcastle Drive. Jimmy worked diligently to provide for his family and to allow Mary to stay at home with their children. The family attended South Austin Baptist Church, where Jimmy led the bus ministry, keeping up to 5 old school buses running, and gassed up, ready to bring kids and youth, from all over south Austin, and to take them home after Sunday School and church services. Jimmy and Mary worked with children’s and youth programs, transporting kids wherever the youth were headed, and ensuring that they learned about God’s plan of salvation.

Jimmy opened his own business, J.W. Automotive, at 202 San Jacinto, in 1977. Jimmy was known throughout the area for his ability to fix automatic transmissions, and through his dedication and work ethic, provided well for his family with the transmission business. Jimmy’s hard work provided for each of his children to attend private universities after their graduation from Travis High School.

Jimmy loved people. He rarely said the words, “I love you.” But he often showed his concern through his actions. One year, there was a horrible winter storm, with snow and ice – a rarity in Austin, TX. There was a family living in their car parked in his parking lot at the shop. Jimmy came home and told Mary that he had put the family in a room at the St. Elmo Motel for the night. Jimmy also loved animals. He would bring home stray animals, our dog Bus Stop, just because “He was just sitting there with no one to take care of him.” Jimmy built the cats a house of their own in the backyard because they needed to be protected, rather than just running wild in the neighborhood. Jimmy was at every football game or sporting event that Bubba ever participated in, sometimes bringing his employees to cheer him on. One time, Jimmy even accompanied an injured teammate in the ambulance from the football game to the hospital because the young man didn’t have any family at the game. Any band performance that Jenna had, whether it be a contest performance or an AquaFest parade, Jimmy was always there supporting his little girl.

Jimmy loved his children’s families as well. Ruth, Kenney’s wife, and John, Jenna’s husband, were welcomed into the family. He would occasionally give them his side-eyed look, when their traditions were a little different than our family’s, but Jimmy truly loved their addition to the Wrubel family. The grandchildren were even more treasured. Jimmy came to see every grandchild at the hospital, as soon as he could get away from the shop. He always marveled at how small they were as he held them, having pictures taken of their tiny hands in his, and loved them from the second he saw Patrick Cootware, Carl Cootware, Baylor Wrubel and Amy Wrubel. Jimmy just as eagerly welcomed Kendall, Baylor’s wife, and Ashaan, Amy’s husband into the family. Then, in March of 2025, Jimmy became a great-grandpa upon the birth of Mary Eloise Mowatt, who brought many smiles to her Great PawPaw.

Jimmy continued to show his love for family members after they passed. He spoke often of John Cootware, his son-in-law, and went to visit his beloved wife, Mary, at the cemetery every day for the first year after her death. Jimmy’s love was demonstrated by his devotion to people and to God. Jimmy was welcomed into heaven by all the people he loved so deeply and is smiling at the face of his Savior, Jesus Christ. “…Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness.” Matthew 25:21

Funeral Service will be held on June 20, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Woodlawn Baptist Church: South Austin location, 4600 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745, US. A private burial is follow at a later date.