Joan Cervenka Cobb went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, January 8th, 2026 at the age of 95. Joan was a faithful servant of the Lord and was always active in her church and community. Joan was born in San Angelo, Texas in 1930 to Burnie and Mary Ruth Cervenka. She grew up in Rowena, Texas. Jo attended school at Rowena Public School until the tenth grade when she went to Ballinger High School where she graduated in 1947. After High School Jo went to Texas Tech in Lubbock. She worked as a church secretary while studying at Tech. She received her BS degree in Secondary Education in 1951. Her first job was teaching in Brownfield, TX. She was dating James Cobb while at Tech and they married in Lubbock, TX in August of 1951. James went into the Air Force in December of 1951 so they lived in various places including Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Upon discharge, they moved to Midland, TX where James went to work for Sinclair Oil Co. as a geologist. After their 3 children were all in school, Jo went to work teaching Art and P.E. She taught for 20 years. During that time, she also received her Master’s Degree from UTPB in 1976. In 1984, Jo & James both retired and enjoyed playing cards, fishing, and traveling. They went to all 50 states plus Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, and Mexico.
Jo spent nearly 35 years working on genealogy and traced her mother and father’s families as well as her husband’s family. She wrote 3 books about these families and became a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of 1812, and United Daughters of the Confederacy, Jamestown Society, and Descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge, Descendants of Czech Ancestry, Colonial Dames, Magna Charta Dames, and Descendants of Kings Mountain.
James passed away in 2012 and Jo continued to live in Midland until October of 2017 when she moved to be near her children. Jo was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She had an incredibly strong faith and loved the Lord. Her life is a testament to God's love and richest blessings.
Jo is survived by her sister Lynda Hall of Southlake, TX, her daughter Janet Cobb of Cedar Creek, TX, her daughter Sherri Cobb of Conroe, TX and her daughter Brenda and her husband Gary James of Conroe, TX, their son Brandon James and his wife Sarah, their children Jacquelyn and Christian, their son Phillip James, and his wife Megan, their two children, Adelyn, and Avery, their daughter Christy Schultz, and her husband Dallas, and their three sons, Wyatt, Waylon, and Wayde; as well as nephews and nieces.
We would like to especially thank Live Oak Sr. Care in Montgomery, TX and Devotion Palliative Care/Hospice of Conroe for the exceptional care, compassion and support they provided for mother and our family.
A visitation will be held at Cashner Funeral Home, located at 801 Teas Road, Conroe, TX 77303, on January 16, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A graveside service will take place at Rowena Protestant Cemetery location at 255 County Rd 250, Rowena, TX 76875, on January 17, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.
