Johnnie W. McWhorter

Johnnie Willis McWhorter, 91, peacefully passed away on March 2, 2022 at Heritage Park Rehabilitation Facility in Austin, TX. He was born on June 20, 1930 in Cleburne, Texas to Otis and Grace Willis McWhorter. A funeral service will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel at 2 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Visitation will be held at the funeral home an hour prior where family will be greeting friends and relatives. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. John grew up in Lubbock, Texas, graduating from Lubbock High School in 1949. After high school, he attended college at Texas Tech in Lubbock as well as Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. John joined the Naval Reserves at the age of 17 while at Lubbock High School and although married with children, was drafted into the Army in 1953, serving in Germany during most of that time. He later joined the Air Force Reserves, retiring in 1990, achieving the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. After his years of 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 develop and create Earth Resources Corporation in the Houston area. He loved flying, getting his pilot's license as well as his own plane, and enjoyed all sports, especially bowling and golf. He was an avid supporter of his Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys. On retirement, he moved to Kingsland, opening his own air conditioning 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, Texas. They were happily married for 59 years until her passing. He was preceded in death by Joan, his parents Otis and Grace McWhorter, siblings, A.C. Gerald, Polly Gerald, Otis McWhorter, Jr. and Normal Hilbers. John was truly blessed when Patsy Arms of Lampasas, Texas came into his life. They were married at Lampasas Baptist Church on November 23, 2012, and she loved and supported him to the end. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Arms McWhorter of Buchanan Dam, Texas; daughters, Janice Elizabeth McWhorter of Pearland, Texas, Diana McWhorter Engel and her spouse Thomas Chappell Engel of Durango, Colorado; grandchildren, Michael Burkett of Pearland, Texas, Richard Burkett of College Station, Texas, Jeremy Engel of Salt Lake City, Utah; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Cullen, Brycie and Hardy Burkett, and Mia and Nicca Engel.