Joe A. Pils

Joe Alvin Pils was born April 26, 1927, to Marie Jensen Pils and Ehrfried Richert Pils in their home at the corner of E. 12th St. and Poquito St., Austin, Tx. Joe left this earth to spend eternity in his Heavenly home with Jesus Christ, his Savior, on April 9, 2023. He was the third of four children. Joe’s mother and family immigrated from Denmark and his father’s family immigrated from Germany. He has always been very proud of his Danish/German heritage. Their family home was built by Joe’s grandfather Albin Pils in 1900. It also served as a small grocery store and gas service station. Ehrfried was a carpenter and taught Joe all the tricks of the carpentry trade he knew. The family sold their home and moved to the west side of I-35 when Joe was 12. The family home is now occupied by Sam’s Barbeque.

Joe graduated from Austin High School in 1944. He joined the U.S. Army/Air Corps at the end of WWII and his 2 older brothers also served in WWII. In 1949, Joe married the girl next door, Vivian Peal, and would become the father of 3 daughters. Joe has always loved music of every genre and imparted his great love of music to his daughters.

Joe loved and raised his daughters in a way that never defined gender appropriateness. He always said, “If you want to do it, go ahead and try it !”. In 1955, Joe found his career with A.H. Robins Pharmaceutical Company as a Pharmaceutical Representative. After his retirement from A.H.Robins, he worked for 10 years at the University of Texas General Libraries as Administrative Assistant until his 2nd retirement in 1994. Joe and Vivian divorced in 1986.

When Joe was 60 years old, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Crouch Cox. They were married in 1988. Their 35-year marriage has been a wonderful and inspiring relationship filled with respect, love, devotion, and genuine caring. Joe was raised with a deeply committed Lutheran Faith. After marriage to Carolyn, they attended Briggs Baptist Church where Joe loved participating in the church choir and singing the fold ole Baptist hymns. Joe’s hope was that his life’s example of being a strong Christian has led family and friends to trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Joe’s happy, contagious, and positive personality gained him many friends and successes throughout the years.

Surviving Joe are his daughters: Mary Kay Pils Krow (Tommy), Joanne Pils, and Maryanne Pils, Joanne’s daughter Kathryn “Katie” Ecclestone (Jason), great-granddaughter of Joe Scarlet Ecclestone, several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and Joe’s wife, Carolyn Pils. Also surviving Joe are Carolyn’s son, Jimmy Cox (Christine), and their daughter, Lindsey Cox-White (Jacob). Joe is pre-deceased by his mother Marie Jensen Pils, father Ehrfried Richert Pils, brothers Ernest Pils (Martha), and Donald Pils, sister Martha Sebastian (Adrian), and 2 nephews. The truest measure of a man is how tall he stands in the eyes of his family and friends. What we hold in memory is ours unchanged forever.

The Memorial Celebration of Joe’s life will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, April 17 at the Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills, 9700 Anderson Mill Rd.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Wounded Warriors Family Support at wwfs.org.

Please visit Joe’s website at forevermissed.com/joe-alvin-pils