Joseph T. Arnett

April 6, 1925-January 8, 2022

Joseph T. Arnett, 96, of Spring, TX passed away Saturday, January 8.

A funeral for Joseph Arnett is scheduled for 11am Saturday, March 5, 2022 at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 7810 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, Texas. Interment of ashes will follow in Beaumont, Texas at a later date. Tributes may be made to the charity of choice.

Joseph was born on April 6, 1925, in the logging town of Nancy, TX to Ralph and Minnie Arnett. Joseph was the sixth of seven children including two sisters and four brothers. Joseph was preceded in death by his wife, Lelia Arnett, and by his siblings: Mrs. R.D. Norton, Miss Cleo Arnett, Ralph Arnett Jr., Dr. Kenneth Arnett, Carl Arnett, and Don Arnett.

Joseph grew up in Lufkin, Texas and as a youth worked at the family dairy and milk station—an early convenience store that sold milk, ice, ice cream, and some sundry items. While Joseph’s mother raised him and his siblings his father in later years served as a Justice of the Peace in addition to his dairy business.

With the onset of World War II, Joseph enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1942 at the age of 17 with his parent’s permission. After training he was deployed to New Guinea where he worked in communications. He later served in the Philippines in a similar capacity for which he was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal.

After the war ended, Joseph was discharged and through the GI Bill attended first the University of Oregon where he studied meteorology and later Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism in1949.

After graduation, Joseph worked in multiple capacities in Beaumont, Texas including public relations at the Mobil Oil Company Refinery there.

In 1957 he married Lelia Burch, of Beaumont TX. They had a daughter, Lorie, who was born in Beaumont and soon after they relocated to El Paso Texas where their son Clint was born and where Joseph began a 23-year career with the El Paso Natural Gas Company, retiring in 1986. He continued on with the El Paso Natural Gas Company as a contractor for an additional few years after his retirement.

Prior to and following his retirement he volunteered for several years as an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau in El Paso; work that he found very rewarding.

Upon leaving the El Paso Natural Gas Company completely, he and Lelia moved to Kerrville, Texas. After enjoying several years in Kerrville they moved to Bryan Texas in 2006 to be closer to family.

He was also an outgoing person who participated in the Lion’s club, served on the Vestry in his church, and served as President for two years of the Resident’s Association at the Forum in the Woodlands where he lived for a time.

Joseph loved his family and friends, he was very close and was engaged throughout his life with his siblings through their annual family reunions and he was very proud of his children and grandchildren.

Mr. Arnett is survived by his daughter, Lorie Goralski and husband, Roger, of Spring; son, Clint Arnett and wife, Lonneda, of Caldwell; grandchildren Benton Arnett of Arlington, VA and Lacey Arnett, of Tomball, and Alexandra Goralski, of Spring. Other survivors include many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brooksidechampions.com for the Arnett family.