Johnnie Willis McWhorter, 91, died on March 2, 2022 at Heritage Park Rehabilitation Facility in Austin. A funeral service will
A funeral service will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel at 2 p.m. on March 8. Visitation with the family will be at the funeral home an hour prior. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery will follow the service.
John was born on June 20, 1930 in Cleburne to Otis and Grace Willis McWhorter.
He grew up in Lubbock, and graduated from Lubbock High School in 1949. He attended Texas Tech in Lubbock as well as Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
John joined the Naval Reserves at the age of 17 while still in high school and was drafted into the Army in 1953, although he was married and had children. He served in Germany most of that time. He later joined the Air Force Reserves and retired in 1990 with the rank of senior master sergeant.
After his military service, John worked for General Dynamics in Fort Worth for many years before relocating to the Houston area, where he worked for NASA as an aerospace engineer. He later collaborated with colleagues to create and develop Earth Resources Corp. in the Houston area.
He loved flying, had his pilot’s license and his own plane, and enjoyed all sports, especially bowling and golf. He was an avid supporter of his Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys.
Upon retirement, he moved to Kingsland, where he opened an airconditioning business, owned and raced quarter horses, and thoroughly enjoyed the Texas Hill Country. He was a Mason for many years and served as a deacon at the many Baptist churches he and his family attended over the years.
John married Joan Hagins in 1950 in Lubbock, and they were married for 59 years until her death.
He also was preceded in death by siblings A.C. Gerald, Polly Gerald, Otis McWhorter Jr. and Normal Hilbers.
John and Patsy Arms of Lampasas then were married at Lampasas Baptist Church on Nov. 23, 2012.
He is survived by his wife, Patsy Arms McWhorter of Buchanan Dam; daughters Janice Elizabeth McWhorter of Pearland, and Diana McWhorter Engel and spouse Thomas Chappell Engel of Durango, Colorado; grandchildren Michael Burkett of Pearland, Richard Burkett of College Station, and Jeremy Engel of Salt Lake City, Utah; and greatgrandchildren Tyler, Cullen, Brycie and Hardy Burkett, and Mia and Nicca Engel.
