JOE S. ACOSTA

1938-2021

Joe S. Acosta passed away on January 6, 2021. He was born October 12, 1938 on a farm near Bay City, Tx. He always had fond memories and stories about his pet pig and Brahman bull while growing up there. His family moved to Houston as a young child. He grew up to not only become an outstanding student with aspirations of becoming an orthopedist but but along the way became a poker ace, pool shark and an all-around natural athlete. He played basketball and lettered with his high school team at Jeff Davis. He could play with the best from Fonde Recreation Center to the University of Houston. He played semi-pro baseball right out of high school after graduating in 1957. He never shot over 100 playing golf and won several amateur tournaments locally and state-wide confounding his cronies and adversaries with his blade putter and early ‘60s MacGregor irons that he played throughout his life.

He met a beautiful young lady, Minnie De La Cruz, who refused to go out with him until, after a spurned date, he stuffed donuts into her mail box. Thankfully, she changed her mind, they dated and then married in 1961. Soon three children were born and his plans for an athletic and medical career came to a halt. He worked several jobs and went to college at the same time. He graduated from the University of Houston in 1968 with a degree in mechanical engineering. One of his graduation gifts was Minnie telling him that a fourth child was on the way and she was born later that year.

He had a successful career in the petrochemical industry designing and updating every part of a oil refinery and chemical plant in multiple sites throughout the country. He loved the challenge of fixing any and everything at his home, teaching his children HVAC, plumbing and auto repair even into the late night.

He loved listening to country music, Nat King Cole and corridos from his childhood and could sing his favorite songs pitch perfect.

He loved his wife and missed her immensely after she passed in 2012.

His four children Joseph Angel Jr. (Laura), Paul Albert, Angela Marie and Anna Maria; nine grandchildren; and one great grandchild; three surviving siblings Theodosa, Manuel and Robert; and hundreds of friends will miss the stories of his games, adventures and fascinating life.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Donations can be made in his name to the San Isidro Cemetery Fund in Sugar Land, Tx and the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering.