Janyce Lanette Cobb

Born and raised in Cuero, Texas, a crossroads for German, Czech, and Polish immigrants and ranchers and cowboys, her social life was centered in her family, school friends, and the Presbyterian church. Upon high school graduation, she was awarded a scholarship to a Presbyterian-sponsored school, Austin College, Sherman, TX.

She earned her BBA and married her college sweetheart, Bill Cobb, in 1962. She proudly supported his work in the Navy on the USS America CVA66 aircraft carrier as they were stationed in Newport RI, Long Beach CA, and Norfolk VA. She reflected on those years fondly the rest of her life.

Upon his honorable discharge, the couple adventured to Lancaster, PA then back to Texas. In 1971, they welcomed their daughter Cynthia and settled in Jersey Village, Texas in the same house with the same beloved neighbors for the next 46 years.

From a young age, Janyce loved working in the business world. She would wake up in the dark hours of morning to help her dad in his wholesale grocery business make a run from Cuero to San Antonio to pick up produce and candy for later distribution to local grocery stores in South Texas.

She became the first female sales representative in Houston for Johnson & Johnson selling medical/surgical supplies to the Houston Medical Center in 1972; sold over $8M in medical supplies in the ‘80s; founded Jan Cobb & Associates to market new medical products in Houston; and marketed for Visiting Nurse Association and Cameo Caregivers. During this time, her passion and strong work ethic earned her Outstanding Employee for the year. She never forgot the people who encouraged her, and made it her mission to help other women get a start in business.

Nearly inseparable, Janyce and Bill enjoyed daily lunches together and with friends. She insisted on bourbon with Diet 7-Up, bringing her own diet sodas with her. She loved all levels of football from high school up to her beloved Houston Oilers and Texans.

Being “solar powered,” she sat in the driveway every afternoon with her feet propped up, surrounded by box fans, mosquito coils, and Jerry Lee Lewis rocking on the CD player, with a glass of Chardonnay. There, she talked with Bill and caught up with family and friends by phone to report the latest rain totals, family news, and what she ate for lunch. She would end every conversation with “We’re just copacetic! I love you!”

A true southern lady, she loved fried catfish, crawfish, and gizzards. She made an excellent pot of chili (without beans, as God intended). She wore colorful clothes, dark red lipstick, her signature big round sunglasses, and cruised in her Lincoln Town Car. She never met a stranger.

Janyce is survived by her husband of 58 years, Bill Cobb, her daughter Cynthia Cobb Oelkers, husband Patrick, and their children Weston and Corinne; her sister Velores Wilkinson and husband Huey; her niece Lanette Patterson, husband Tim and daughter Vivien; nephew Earl Wilkinson and children Carol, , Kaden and Joshua; sister-in-law Pam Knippa, and many cousins. She was predeceased by parents Annie Louise Nagel Benton and Finly Dotry Benton.

Due to the current pandemic, a memorial service will be planned for a later date. Memorial donations may be made in Janyce Cobb’s name to the Dress for Success Houston (https://dfshouston.org/), an organization that mentors young women in business, or the Navy Memorial Fund in Washington DC (https://www.navymemorial.org/).

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

― Hunter S. Thompson