Joseph Edgar Mims

JOSEPH EDGAR MIMS, passed away on November 6, 2014, at the age of 93. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father, a man of strong faith, a dynamic and imaginative boss and employee, a person who respected all, and a giver to people and charities.

Joe was born in Lufkin, Texas, on September 4, 1921, the first son and second child of Forrest Marion Mims and Letha Elizabeth Myer. He and his family moved to Houston in 1929. He attended Lamar Elementary, Marshall Junior High, and Jeff Davis High School. At Rice Institute, he studied mechanical engineering, graduating in absentia in 1943, having left in March for the to serve in the U.S. Navy as an officer in the Pacific in WW II. He returned to Houston in the employ of Shell Pipeline.

Joe, known to many as “Mr. Pipeline,” worked for Shell companies for over 40 years in support of technical services and operations, moving his large family to and from Houston and Austin, TX; Springfield, MO; Cushing, OK; Casper, WY; and Toronto, Ontario. He was known for listening charitably to all and affording each the benefit of the doubt.

Joe especially enjoyed his avocations. He painted water colors, played golf regularly through age 90 (including a holeinone), fished, and tracked investments. As an enthusiastic Christian everywhere he lived, he taught Sunday school ( 60+ years), served as a deacon, and supported church growth and outreach activities.

Joe had a full family life centered on Inez Benson Mims, his high school and college sweetheart and wife of 72 years. (The two of them finally experienced the Rice capandgown ceremony in May 1998, also shaking hands with President and Mrs. G.H.W. Bush). They realized their goals of having a large family and graduating every child from college.

Joe is survived by his wife, Inez, and his children and their spouses: Patricia Annette Mims, Joe and Nory Mims, Paul Mims and Katherine Crooks, Sue and Fred Fairs, Don and Martha Pritchett Mims, Peter and Martha Ramos Mims, and Laurie Eileen Mims. He also is fondly remembered by 14 grandchildren: Brian Leonard (Suzanne), Janet Leonard McMahon (Mark), Nicholas Mims (Saree), Elizabeth Mims, Anne Mims Reese (Will), Patrick Mims-Crooks, Laurie Fairs Green (Curtis), Wendy Fairs, Karen Fairs Peery (Randy), Janet Fairs Dawe (Matt), Joseph Mims, Cristina Mims, Jennifer Roe Neubert, and Jason Roe (Christine), along with 16 great-grandchildren, his sister Rachael Talbert, his brother George Ellis Mims and wife Leslie, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family gratefully acknowledges the devoted and affectionate caregivers of Care Innovations, the attention and support from Dr. Elizabeth Torres and David Via, and the loving friends and relatives who visited Joe in his later years, in particular the members of his church and Rev. Fred Seay.

The funeral will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Land, 502 Eldridge Rd, 77478, on Saturday, November 15, at 1:00 PM. Beginning at noon in the fellowship hall, the family will greet relatives and friends at a reception prior to the service at the church.

For those wishing to do so, the family suggests that donations be directed to First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Land, the Inez Benson and Joseph Edgar Mims Scholarship at Rice University, or a charity of your choice.