Joe Howard

Joe Mack was born at Hendrick Hospital on November 13, 1941. Growing up in Abilene, he graduated from Abilene High School in 1960 and was a member of the Team of the Century for his time as an Abilene Eagle football player.

Joe Mack was a proud veteran and served in the US Navy from 1965 thru 1969 as a radarman on the USS Cochrane, guided missle destroyer out of Pearl Harbor and served on three cruises to Vietnam as well as in recovery efforts for the Apollo space missions.

Joe Mack met and married the love of his life, Ava Jo Farnum while in the service in 1968. After his discharge they attended Sul Ross State University where he earned a BBA and began his 30 year career in the grocery foods industry with the majority of his work on the Gatorade brand.

After Joe Mack's retirement, they bought and ran the Greenville Deli in Allen, TX for a few years before eventually retiring full time and moving back home to Abilene. In Abilene Joe Mack was active in the VFW and serving with his church family at Elmwood West United Methodist Church.

Joe Mack was preceeded in death by his parents Tice and Jewel Howard, and is survived by his wife, Ava Jo, a daughter, Lana Sue, a son John Michael, and two grandaughters, Callee Marie and Taryn Grace.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hendrick Home for Children, the United Methodist Food Pantry, or your favorite charity.

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