Raymond Maxwell Trowbridge Jr.

He was born in Tyler, Texas on December 4, 1943. Max attended Bell Elementary, Moore Junior High School, and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. He earned a BS in Earth Science and Geography from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas.

During his career, he owned and operated two geological consulting services: Trowbridge Wellbore Analysts and Trowbridge Sample Service with district offices in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Both companies provided oil exploration services.

In 1956 Max put his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized at the First Christian Church of Tyler, Texas.

In Little League baseball Max was a pitcher. His father cut a hole in an old door, with a small opening over the plate between a player’s waist & knee so Max could learn to throw the ball exactly where he wanted it. He pitched a wicked slider. He became a strike-out king. In middle school Max was quarterback for the Moore mustangs. He had a strong accurate arm. His father set up football formations with chairs in the back yard so Max could learn to run plays. Max earned the rank of Eagle scout.

As a high school sophomore, Max was severely injured in an auto wreck which ended his athletic participation. After his recovery, he became an avid golfer and tennis player. He holds two consecutive 2008 USTA Texas State Tennis Championship titles in doubles for the senior and super senior divisions. He and his doubles tennis partner moved on to compete in two national championships.

Max loved the outdoors. He partnered with a friend and opened a sailboat company. He was certified master scuba diver and dove in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Florida. He loved to water ski and snow ski. Max became a high performance pilot with instrument certifications (IFR). He loved hunting, riflery, and archery.

Max wrote and published two books: Reclaiming National Sanity and American Patriot, Spiritual Patriot.

The most defining thing in Max’s life was his commitment to the program and people of Alcoholics Anonymous. At the time of his death on August 10, 2023, he had maintained 49 years of continuous, unbroken sobriety. During his lifetime he attended thousands of AA meetings, sharing the story of his personal recovery and sponsoring many people. He has many friends in the program.

Max is survived by his sister Arleen Trowbridge Jones, her husband Jack Jones of Tyler, and their sons James Jones and Stan Jones; and his sister Betty Jane Trowbridge Gammill of Brandon, Florida, and her sons Alex Gammill and Ari Gammill of Austin, Texas.

A celebration of Max’s life will be held on Saturday, August 19, at 2 p.m. at 2328 Aberdeen Drive in Tyler, Texas.

For further information, please contact Richard at [email protected]

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lloydjamesfuneralhome.com for the Trowbridge family.