Joe Bob Carden, 81, died on May 5, 2025, at Clear Sky Rehabilitation Hospital in Harker Heights.
Funeral services will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas at 11 a.m. May 14, with visitation an hour prior. Burial with full military honors will follow at Long Cove Cemetery in Lometa.
Joe was born on June 26, 1943, in Mineral Wells, and adopted by Faye Estelle Carden.
He attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, where he received a bachelor’s degree in history. While at college, he met his wife, Dianne. They were married on March 12, 1965.
After college, Joe joined the Army and served in the Vietnam War. He was stationed along the North Korean DMZ, and was the recipient of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and several other awards, decorations and medals. He spent most of his active-duty years traveling back and forth between stations in Germany and the United States, always with his wife Dianne and their daughters, Melissa and Teresa. He retired after 28 years, achieving the rank of colonel.
Joe found civilian employment after his military retirement as the Inspector General for the Arizona National Guard. After 13 years living in Tempe, Arizona, Joe and Dianne fully retired in 2003 and moved to Lampasas. Joe and Dianne loved the community and their kind neighbors and were happy to return home to Texas after so many years of traveling.
Here they embarked upon new adventures together raising chickens, gardening and becoming grandparents.
Joe was preceded in death by his son, Michael Joseph Carden, on Jan. 5, 1972; and by his wife, Dianne, on March 2, 2022.
Joe is survived by his daughter, Melissa Carden and son-in-law, Justin Goltermann of Somerville, Massachusetts, and his daughter, Teresa Wells of Jourdanton, Texas; his brother, Donald Hawkins and sister-in-law, Sharron Hawkins of Pampa; granddaughter, Lauren Wells of San Antonio; nieces and nephews and other relatives, and his dog, Barbie.
Memorial donations may be made to a local food pantry, library or animal rescue organization.
