He is survived by his two sons, John (and his wife Sandra of Sonora, Texas and their two sons Cody and wife Mandi and Joseph), and Michael (and his wife Karen and daughter Lindsay of Manvel, Texas), and two nephews Bill Anderson of Nashville, Tennessee and Van Anderson of Jackson, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of fifty-nine years, Gene, and sister Ruth Anderson of Jackson, Mississippi.
He was a member of the St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church for the past 50 years.
“Doctor Joe”, as he was called by friends and patients alike, was born and raised in Mississippi, attending high school in Raymond and Millsaps College in Jackson, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1938. He attended Tulane University School of Medicine from 1938-1942, where he earned his medical degree. After serving an internship at Charity Hospital, New Orleans in 1943, he joined the Army Air Force where he served as a Flight Surgeon and retired in 1946 with the rank of Major. He continued his education at Lafayette Louisiana General Hospital, where he completed a residency in surgery and medicine. It was here that he
met his wife, Kathryn Gene Fields. They were married in 1948 and moved to Houston in 1949, where he began a career in Family Practice for nearly 30 years.
He served in leadership positions in the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Texas Medical Association, and American Medical Association, and received the Distinguished Service award from the TMA and Benjamin Rush Community Service award
from the AMA. In 1977 he joined the staff of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, advancing to the position of Vice-President for Patient Care until his retirement in 1989. He was active in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for over 40 years, serving as a volunteer, as well as in leadership positions including Chairman of the Palomino Horse Committee and Health Committee, and Vice-President of the Show. He later proudly served as
President and Chairman of the Board of the organization. At the time of his death, he was a Lifetime Member of the Executive Committee.
Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 3rd of September, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where a brief service of remembrance will commence at seven o'clock.
At a later date, the family is to gather for a private interment service.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that donations be directed to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX, 77210-4486, or the Educational Fund of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, TX, 77225.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18