Joseph Edwin Hudson was born December 26, 1924 in Shreveport, Louisiana and passed away on Friday night, January 29, 2021, in Carthage, Texas, at the age of 96. He was the son of the late Joseph Willis and Myrle Fite Hudson. He was a 1942 graduate of Roanoke High School in Roanoke, LA, attended Southwestern Institute in Lafayette and graduated in 1947 from the Landig College of Mortuary Science in Houston. On April 16, 1947 while still in mortuary school, one of the deadliest industrial explosions in history occurred in Texas City, where he was able to assist and serve in many capacities. He was a World War II veteran of the United States Navy where he was a member of Crommelin's Thunderbirds, a carrier-based air group which made the first carrier plane raid on Tokyo. He also served as a gunner and radioman on a Navy dive bomber. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima, Okinawa and other air strikes on Japan and other Japanese held islands. Joe was a long time and faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Carthage joining September 14, 1947. He was a member of the Loyal Sons Sunday School class where he served as a teacher for over 20 years and also served on various church boards. He worked for Champlin Petroleum Company which later became Union Pacific Resources where he was a gas measurement supervisor, and retired in 1986 after 33 years of service. He was a life member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He married Betty Dennard on August 25, 1950 in Carthage. A man of many talents, Joe was a licensed funeral director and embalmer, a licensed pilot, expert archer, wood craftsman, scuba diver, skilled photographer, built and flew radio-controlled airplanes and made beautiful stained-glass gifts for family and friends. Joe also had a passion for hunting and fishing and was a real perfectionist in everything he did. Joe was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Betty Dennard Hudson.

Surviving are a daughter, Amy and her husband Sam Allison of Carthage; two sons, Mark and his wife Janice of San Mateo, California and Maury Hudson of Texarkana, Texas. Also surviving are a niece, Dr. Jan Jones Forester and her husband, Sam of Longview; three nephews, John Jones and his wife Lisa of Flint, Texas; Jim Jones and his wife, Vicki of Longview, Texas and Jerry Jones and his wife, Lisa of Tyler, Texas. Joe also left a precious friend, his loyal and loving dog, Cricket.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at Restland Memorial Park near Carthage, with Rev. Kevin Otto officiating under the directon of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Jones, Jim Jones, Jerry Jones, Jeb Jones, John Brinkley, Steve Grimes and Phil Grimes.

The family would like to thank the wonderful teams at Winkler Place and Heart's Way Hospice for the loving care they gave Dad.

Memorials can be made to the Methodist Children's Home 1111 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708 or Heart's Way Hospice 437 W. Panola St., Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com .

Click on the video below to view Mr. Hudson's Graveside Service

Click on the video below to view Mr. Hudson's Tribute