Joe Urice Obituary

Joe Roy Urice was born in Pauls Valley, OK on March 1, 1924 to Chester Arthur (Bill) Urice and Yula Beryl (Dendy) Urice. Joe passed away on August 16, 2024 in Kerrville, Texas. He was a member of the Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma, as his mother was an original enrollee under the Dawes Rolls of members of the Five Civilized Tribes in 1905.

He married Alyece Rogene Biggans of Elk City, OK on January 26, 1947. She preceded him in death on August 1, 2008 in Kerrville, TX following 61 years of marriage. They were blessed with three children-- Joe Scott Urice (Sandra), Roy Kirk Urice, and Mary Kathleen Urice. He was also survived by a granddaughter Alyece Dawn Daniel (Brenton). Joe was the last surviving of his of three younger siblings-- sisters Wynona Jane Morrow (John D.) of New Canaan, CT and Billie Marion Wright Byers of Grand Prairie, TX, and a brother James Arthur Urice (Ramona) of Norman, OK. 

He lived in Kerrville, TX since December 10,1990 when he and Rogene moved from Overland Park, KS, following his retirement in 1984 from Continental Oil Company (CONOCO, INC.), where he served as President and Manager of one of CONOCO’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. Prior to his employment with CONOCO, he was the Permian Basin representative for Urice Drilling Company of Fort Worth and Midland, TX, a firm founded by his father.

Growing up in an oilfield family, new environments and experiences were the norm, not the exception.

Joe attended 13 schools for his primary and secondary education, including three high schools—Elk City, OK, Hobart, OK and Taft, TX, where he graduated in May 1941. He lettered in four sports at Taft and then attended the University of Texas from September 1941 to August 1943, lettering in the Longhorn Band as a clarinetist. He left the University at the end of his sophomore year following the entry of the United States into WW II. 

He joined the United States Army Air Corps and served as a B-17 Tail Gunner on the Jesse Wofford Crew in the Eighth Air Force, 100th Bomb Group (Heavy), 351st Squadron at Thorpe Abbotts, England. The Crew flew Missions over France and Germany, as well as a food relief mission to Holland (Chowhound Missions) until VE Day. Following cessation of hostilities in Europe, he was assigned duty on the ground in France and Germany facilitating the exchange of German prisoners for Americans troops who had been captured and detained by the Germans. His period of military service was November 11, 1943 to February 6, 1946. After his discharge he enrolled in the University of Oklahoma and graduated in January of 1948. 

He belonged to many organizations during his business career and in his social life, including service as elder at several Christian Churches and as a member of Phi Kappa Psi social fraternity at Oklahoma University. He also served as an officer of the AF&A Masons, Scottish Rite, York Rite and the Masonic Shriners. He was a member of the Comfort, TX chapter of the EAA and was a long-time member of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, serving a term on its Board of Directors. Joe was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Kerrville since 1992, where he served in the early service choir. In March 2021 The Counsel General of France, based in Houston, traveled to Kerrville to present him with an award for his service in France, naming him a Chevalier in the French National Order of the Legion of Honor. 

Services will be conducted beginning at 11:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church, 321 Thompson Drive, Kerrville TX, 78028, on September 7, 2024 with interment at Glen Rest Cemetery in Kerrville. The Visitation will be at the Kerrville Funeral Home at 1221 Junction Hwy. in Kerrville on September 6, 2024 from 5-7PM. 

Special thanks go to his dedicated professionals at River Point of Kerrville, Peterson Home Health and Alamo Hospice. You made his life much more comfortable.

Services with integrity, pride, and honor are under the direction of Kerrville Funeral Home. (830) 895-5111