James L. (Jim) Boone Jr. passed away on October 20, 2015 at his apartment in Watercrest Retirement Community in Bryan, aged 92. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, October 23, 2015 at A&M United Methodist Church in College Station. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow at the College Station City Cemetery. Funeral services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral Home and Crematory.
Jim was born May 15, 1923 to James L. Boone and Mora Evelyn Waddell Boone in Houston, Texas, the first of two children. The family had a farm in Fort Bend County through the 1920s. In his teenage years, he lived in College Station and in Huntsville as his parents pursued college and advanced degrees at Texas A&M and Sam Houston State. James graduated from Beasley High School in May, 1940 and entered Texas A&M in the Fall of that year, where he was a member of Company E, Signal Corps Branch. He graduated as a member of the Class of ’44. In 1944 and 1945, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in New Guinea and the Phillipines. He subsequently served an additional 36 years in the Army Reserves, ultimately retiring as a Colonel.
Jim married Lillian Vorpahl of Beasley on May 18, 1944 in Rosenberg, Texas. They lived first in Bryan and then Laredo, finally moving permanently to College Station in 1952 where Jim taught and later served as Chair in the Department of Industrial Education at Texas A&M University until his retirement in 1988. Jim and Lillian were married for 56 years until Lillian passed away on August 16, 2002. He subsequently remarried Naomi Shannon of College Station on February 1, 2004. Naomi passed away on June 15, 2004.
Jim spent his retirement years actively pursuing his interests in genealogy, Western swing music, Civil War history, and the history of the now disappeared local commuter train lines in the Brazos Valley.
James L. Boone, Jr. is survived by his brother, H. S. “Dan” Boone, of Houston, son James L. Boone, III and his wife Susan of Albuquerque, former daughter-in-law Lea Ann Boone of Albuquerque, grandchildren Alice, Jack, Will and David, and great-grandson Sebastian. Additionally he is survived by stepchildren, John Shannon and wife Vicki of Carlos, Danny Shannon and wife Nancy of Tomball, Robin Shannon and wife Jackie of Round Rock, Patty Milby and husband Michael of Alexandria, Virginia and Sean Shannon and wife Danette of Colorado.. He is predeceased by his parents, first wife Lillian, and second wife Naomi.
I am grieved at your loss.
Jim was an excellent prof, a rare and thoughtful boss, and a cherished colleague. He was a wonderful role model for both teaching and life, and he will be missed.
Gus Baker
I am so sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. I was always hoping to meet him. I am the great granddaughter of Clara Boone Stull. My grandmother was Mrs. William D. (Ethleen Stull) Spence. We are in Fairbury, Illinois. Jim and I used to e -mail back and forth. He was so interested in our farm, Spence Farm. He had always e-mailed me little bits of family history. I was always wanting to meet him so we could talk more about our family. He seemed to be a remarkable gentleman. I will miss our communication. You are all in my prayers.
He was such a nice ,friendly man . Lived a long and fruitful life . My thoughts and prayers for
my good friend ,his son, Jimmy and the entire Boone family and friends . sincerely Jim Bradley ,Crockett TX
I have such great Vorpahl family memories of time spent together when we were children. Uncle James and Aunt Lillian were a big part of that. They were a blessing to everyone that knew them. Praying for your family, Kathie and Bruce
We are so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a special friend who will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Our thoughts and prayers are with all his family and friends during this time. Frances Isbell and family
To JIm Boone III.. I was so saddened to hear of your dad’s passing. He lived a long full life. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
My sincere condolences to Mr. Boone’s family. I always enjoyed his visits to the Corps Center. Being from Rosenberg, we immediately hit it off and enjoyed talking about Fort Bend County. He was a true gentleman with a sharp mind and warm smile. He will be sorely missed.
I was fortunate to have met Jim Boone at A&M in January of 1961 when I began studies in Industrial Education. Jim was student centered, a kind and patient teacher and a wise mentor.
Over the next three years I had classes in Electricity, Electronics and Audio-Visual Instructional methods from Jim Boone.
He was often found in the Graduate Carrel study area and was a compassionate listener, a skillful “Path Finder” and an experienced Instructor/ former Graduate Student, wise in the Ways of TAMC.
In later years, whenever I had an opportunity to advise potential Graduate Students regarding advanced professional degrees, I always suggested that they contact “Dr. Boone at TAMU” and to ask honest questions, expect thoughtful advice and exemplary mentorship.
To all who had contact with Jim, he was regarded as “One of the Good Guys.”
We will all miss him —
Wallace Johnston – 1964, 66, 68
Dr Boone was Lee’s professor, his mentor and his colleague. But most of all, he was our dearest friend for over 45 years. We cherish the memories of his knowledge and our discussions about many things. He could turn a yes/no question into a history lesson that kept us in awe every time. His guidance made Lee what he is today; and although Linda was not an Aggie, he accepted her into the fold without question. We will miss him forever.
We pray that Jesus will wrap him and his family in His loving arms and comfort them all, for we are sure that He has already said to Dr Boone, “enter in, ye good and faithful servant.” May God bless him and all the people he has touched in his life for there are many.
Jimmy, I was sorry to hear of James’s passing. As you know, he and Lillian and I were classmates, friends, and family for so many years. Remembering you at this time with prayer, Aunt Ardis
Jimmy, I was sorry to hear of your father’s passing. He was a wonderful man. Remembering you and your family at this time. Lynette and Ralph
Our community has lost a wonderful caring man that did many thing to enrich lives. He will be missed by many.
We were deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Dr. Boone. We had kept in touch thru Facebook after our move to Oklahoma in August of 2014. Dr. Boone & I worked together in FBC library together for several years. I remember the year I baked him a cake for his birthday and brought it to him at the library. He was so thankful. He and Lillian were very, very special to me and I know the angels are singing in heaven. May you forever rest in peace, Dr. Boone. I will miss you terribly as I know others will.
Love,
Mitzi
It was a great pleasure to know Jim, and a great joy to work with him on programs for the Watercrest community. My sincere condolences to the family. Tom McMullen
Dr. Boone was in the Signal Corps when my Dad was too, ’43, before they went to WWII, and they both ended up teaching at A&M, so fortunate to get to teach at the school they went to and loved. Dr. Boone was the Chairman of the Industrial Arts Dept. when I was there. We kept up with each other at Tech Ed conferences and because Jimmy was in my class of ’67 at CHS we kept up with his grand kids. Your Dad, granddad, was a mentor for me because I’d only gone to UT and taught Art before my Aggie immersion in Industrial Arts. In 2007 your Dad helped me navigate through the registration for Aggie Muster at A&M, for my Mom and then my Dad. So Jimmy be sure to plan on honoring your father again this spring, for him and all Aggie’s, especially the Veterans at Muster. I’ve ended up saying Gig’em more than I say Hook’em, and your Dad was an inspiration to so many Tech Ed teachers! He was always so sparkly, had a great laugh and was a positive role model for generations of Aggies. Gig’em!
Evalyn Worley ’76
Dear Dan, I was so sorry to hear about your brother. You may remember my maiden name (Drachenberg’s from Beasley). My father (R.B. Drachenberg) and mother (Alice Neufeldt Drachenberg) never let our family forget—how important the Boone family has been to us, personally, and the community. Your father was my father’s mentor, and my mother once said that every job my father ever had (and loved) was because of your father “recruiting” him. I had the pleasure of knowing your parents quite well, (since I attended Needville schools), and also got to know your brother, via the attendances at the Beasley School Reunions through the years. The entire Boone family is so special. My condolences to you in your huge loss. Karen (Drachenberg) Sievers
Hello,
My name is Micah and I was one of Mr. Boone’s CNAs during his stays at Christus Dubuis Hospital of Bryan. I know this is a little late, but I was just told of his passing. I am deeply sorry and he will be missed very much. He was one of my favorite and most memorable patients. I wish I could have attended the services to further extend my condolences. Again, I will miss that old Aggie very much. I’m sorry for your loss. 🙁