Joe Pace

Service: 10 a.m. Thursday at Retta Baptist Church, 13201 Rendon Rd., Burleson. Interment: Burleson Memorial Park. Visitation: 9 a.m. Thursday at the church.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Burleson Senior Citizen Center.

Joe, or "Pops" as his family called him, was born in Holland, Texas, on Aug. 16, 1926. Born to a family of sharecroppers, hard work and dedication were no strangers to Joe. On Sept. 2, 1944, Joe married the love of his life, Louise Kelley, and relocated to Fort Worth shortly thereafter. Taking a job with the city of Fort Worth, Joe served his city for 40 years, working his way from a ditch digger to lead surveyor for the Water Department until his retirement in 1987 to spend more time with his family.

Joe was the rock of his family and unselfishly provided for them in every situation without hesitation. In his later years, when he wasn't spending time with his family, he could be found playing dominoes at the Burleson Senior Citizen Center or traveling to Winstar with his best friends hoping to win the big jackpot.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Louise, who, on Sept. 2, would be celebrating their 71st anniversary.

Survivors: His only daughter, Trina Jackson and her husband, Gary, of Burleson; grandchildren, Brett and wife, Lindsey, of Richardson and Kyle of Fort Worth; and by whom he was known as "Grandpa Joe," his great-grandchildren, Parker and Finnley.