Joe Matthews Overton Jr.

Joe Matthews Overton, Jr., 88, of Midland passed away on December 2, 2013. He was born in Breckenridge, TX, and raised in Albany, TX. He graduated from Texas Military Institute, San Antonio, TX. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps and stationed in Madison, WI, Pullman, WA, and overseas in Italy during the latter portion of WWII. Returned to Texas and attended McMurry College, Abilene, TX, for 1 year and transferred to Texas Tech University where he earned a double degree in petroleum engineering and geology in 1951. He married Mary Janet Johnson in 1951 and re-enlisted in the USAF during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed at Lackland Air Base, San Antonio, Scott AFB in Bellville, IL, then McDill AFB in Tampa, FL. Joe and Janet returned to Texas and lived in Abilene, then moved to Odessa to work with Cardinal Chemical Inc. and Chemical Engineering Acidizing Inc. In 1961, they moved to Midland where he serves as a deacon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, which later became Trinity Presbyterian. Joe was a Professional Engineer, and in 1963, he co-founded Ormond & Overton Inc. with his partner, Jim Ormond.They sold the company in 1981 and Joe stayed on with Petroplex Acidizing Inc. to help with the transition. He continued his petroleum engineering career with Sherman Power Tongs, Earl Bruno Oil, and Total Abandonment Plugging Service. He then retired and for 25 years was a golf marshal at Green Tree Country Club until October 2012.

In addition to his love of golf, he loved horses and enjoyed camping, fly fishing, ballroom dancing with his lovely bride, and watching his girls play volleyball and softball, and his grandsons’ baseball games.

Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Janet, and his daughters, Mary Nolan her husband Pat Nolan, and their children Chris and Matthew, Blanche Overton and husband Rev. Todd Rasberry, PhD., and granddaughters: Brettney Jones (John) and Keri Eberhard (Scott); his sister-in-law, Carey Jo Overton, and nephew, David Overton (Carol) and their daughters Betsy and Abbey.

Joe is predeceased by his parents, Margaret and Joe Overton Sr., and his brother, Bob Overton, and his niece, Frances Overton.

Funeral services will be at 11:00AM at St. Luke’s UMC under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of Midland, 911 West Texas, Midland, TX, 79701.