Joe Erwin Carmack

Joe graduated high school from Texas Military Institute and received a golf scholarship to Trinity University where he graduated with a Business Administration degree. He was Corp Commander at Trinity and entered the Marine Corps in 1957.

Joe leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Mary Carmack; his daughters Kim Carmack and Lea (Stewart) Leach; his sons Joe Max Carmack and Jeffrey (Sharon) Jost; his grandchildren Bree (Jacob) Divin; Jaz Muckleroy; Christopher Leach and Patrick Leach; his great-granddaughter Dallas Divin. He is predeceased by his mother and father and his brother and sister-in-law Ted and Norma Carmack.

Life for Joe was one big adventure. He loved to travel and saw much of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe; his favorites were cruising on the blue seas and traveling to his second home in Colorado where he loved to ski and hike.

In Joes younger years he was a scratch golfer. He won many tournaments and played with some of the PGA greats including Lee Trevino and Ben Crenshaw. Even after being diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, he continued to golf with his friends. He also was an avid bowler, bowling in numerous leagues and tournaments. He rolled two perfect games (300). He enjoyed snow skiing, scuba diving, racquetball, and softball.

A born entrepreneur, he managed and later owned Wonder Bowl Lanes, Spare Time Lanes, and was a partner of Astro Bowl. He was a bowling pioneer; being one of the first proprietors in the U.S. to offer his employees health insurance and profit-sharing plans. His centers boasted state of the art equipment, good service and cleanliness. Wonder Bowl hosted many tournaments including two professional tournaments that were nationally televised. He served as President of the Texas Bowling Proprietors Association and on various committees for the Bowling Proprietors Association of America. In 1994, Joe was inducted into the San Antonio Bowling Council Hall of Fame.

He was a 32nd degree Mason and involved with the Shriners Golf Unit, the Shriners Annual Circus and fundraising for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Joe was an optimist and lived life to the fullest. His personality and laughter were contagious. He enjoyed making people laugh by telling one of his numerous jokes or finding humor in the most mundane life circumstances.

A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 2:30 PM at Porter Loring North with a Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or Leon Springs Presbyterian Church.