Joe Zorn

Joe Zorn, prominent Baytown attorney for over 50 years, civic and Methodist church leader, loving husband and father, tough competitor and principled counselor who stood for honesty and truth, passed away January 11, 2006 after battling a number of illnesses over the last few years. He was 81 years old and counseled clients, friends and family until the month of his death.

Born in Winona, Texas to John Gordon and Sybil Lay Zorn, Joe grew up in the country, where his father grew roses and became one of the original commercial rose growers in what later became known as the Rose Capital of the World.

Joe, or Joe Dick as he was known in East Texas, graduated Valedictorian from Winona, High School in 1941 at age 17. One of five Zorn boys, he was a champion debater, and star athlete on the Winona Wildcat football, baseball and basketball teams. Knick named ‘Ol Swivel Hips’ for his elusive running style on the football field, the Winona Wildcats rarely lost a football game in which he played.

After graduating from Winona in 1941, Joe turned down an opportunity to pursue a minor league baseball career with the Pine Springs Doodlers and enrolled at Tyler Junior College. At the conclusion of that first semester, Joe turned 18 in December 1942 and joined the Army. He was assigned to the 482nd Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Battalion, which was attached to the 9th Armored Division.

He proudly served his country and earned 3 battle stars for his efforts in the three European Battle Zones. The freezing weather and nights in fox holes in the Ardennes took its toll on Joe and he came close to death. But the development of penicillin saved his life and he finished his tour of duty. For the remainder of his life, his frostbitten feet were never completely warm and served as a constant reminder of his service to our country. Joe was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and later in life, proudly attended his WWII battalion reunions with his son.

At the conclusion of WWII Joe entered the University of Texas under the GI Bill. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and remained life long friends with many of his Fraternity and University of Texas friends. He continued on to law school at the University of Texas and remained a proud Texas Longhorn for his entire life.

After graduating from Law School, Joe came to Baytown and took a job in the law practice of Dick Little. Later, Jim Girardeau joined Joe and together, the Zorn and Girardeau law partnership began. It was a law partnership and special friendship that lasted over 45 years until Mr.Girardeau’s death in 2000. Joe treated his clients with the Golden Rule, and as a result, folks sought him out even in his last days. He had a saying that “the client was always right, though he be wrong”.

Joe met Eleanor Stack shortly after arriving in Baytown in 1952. He knew the minute that he met her that she would become his wife. They were married in 1954, and had two boys, Jody and Jay, to whom they were very proud of and devoted their lives to raising.

Joe loved Eleanor more than life itself. They had a long term loving and caring relationship for over 44 years. Together they raised their two sons, and only after the boys had gone off to college, did they take up golf and warm weather beach travel, which became their passion. Joe often played golf with the “wild bunch” at the Goose Creek Country Club, and pound for pound, was known to be able to hit the golf ball farther than anyone his age or weight. Joe and Eleanore together, spent many hours enjoying golf and beach travel together. When Eleanore died in 1999, life never quite had the same rich meaning for Joe.

In Baytown, Joe served as Sunday school teacher of the Fellowship Class at St. Marks Methodist Church, was a past Chairman of the St. Mark’s Administrative Board, was past President of the Sterling Booster Club, served on the Board of Happy Harbor Retirement Home, was active in the VFW and counted as friends people from all walks of life. He taught his two boys to “never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins”.

Joe is survived by his two sons, Jody and Jay, Jody’s wife Sandra of Dallas, and their three children, Jenna, Ricky and Ashley and son Jay’s wife Christy of Houston and their 2 boys, Andrew and Tyler. Joe is also survived by his two remaining brothers, John and Fred, and their wives Joyce and Theresa. He is also survived by the last remaining brother of Eleanore, Peter Stack of Houston, and his wife, Josie, and many nieces and nephews. Joe was predeceased by his wife Eleanore and his brothers Charles and Jack.

Services will be held at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Baytown on Sunday, January 15th, at 3:00 PM with the Rev. Mike Proctor officiating. A visitation will be held Saturday, January 14th from 6 to 8 PM at Navarre Funeral Home in Baytown. A graveside service will be held at Center Methodist Church Cemetery in Tyler, Texas on Monday, January 16 at 3:00 PM.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Fellowship Class at St. Marks United Methodist Church.

Should there be those that wish to honor his memory, his choice of an institution would be the St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 3811 N. Main St., Baytown, TX 77521.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX 77521, 281-422-8111.