Joseph Anthony Stallone, Jr.

Joseph Anthony “J.A.” Stallone, Jr. passed from this life on Monday, April 6, 2026, at his home in Gary, Texas. He was born on December 23, 1944, in LeCompte, Louisiana, to Joseph Anthony Stallone, Sr. and Josephine Lucille Lena Stallone. As a young boy, he moved with his family to La Marque, Texas, following his father’s return from World War II. He graduated from La Marque High School with the Class of 1962.

J.A. lived life to the fullest, cherishing his Catholic faith, his large Italian family, and a lifelong passion for the outdoors and farming. He served his country honorably in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War as a munitions technician from 1965 to 1969, receiving an honorable discharge.

On July 3, 1970, he married the love of his life, Judy Kojis, in Texas City, Texas. Together, they shared 56 wonderful years of marriage.

J.A. worked in boiler operations for Houston Power & Light and later in process operations for AMOCO at Chocolate Bayou, and subsequently for GAF in Texas City. Outside of work, he devoted himself to improving the family’s small farm in Alta Loma, Texas, where he built their first home.

Later, J.A. and Judy moved their young family to East Texas, where they purchased a broiler farm and poured their hearts into restoring it to full production. From 1986 until his retirement in 2010, J.A. raised chickens and a variety of farm animals. He also raised award-winning rabbits and proudly worked alongside his children in numerous 4-H animal projects.

J.A.’s love of gardening was inherited from his Italian immigrant grandfathers, Carlo Stallone and Phillip Lena. He cultivated acres of vegetables, along with figs, pecans, and fruit trees. His well-known catalpa trees—grown to provide worms for fishing—were just one example of the many ways he stayed connected to the land he loved throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Josephine Stallone; his sister, Mary Rose Childers; and his longtime friend, Richard Moffett.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Judy Stallone; his children, Anthony Stallone III and wife Tammy, and Angela Stallone; his grandchildren, Joseph Stallone and wife Arin, Zachary Stallone, Madelynn Stallone, Dillon Cummings, and Abbie Cummings; his great-grandchildren, Raylee Stallone and Clyde Stallone; his sister, Joan Sullivan and husband Jeff; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. He especially cherished his lifelong friendships with Earl Brannon and Mike Hunter.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, at St. William of Vercelli Catholic Church in Carthage, Texas, with Father Steve Paradis officiating, under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment with Military Honors will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Pythian Cemetery in Bunkie, Louisiana.

The family will receive friends beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home in Carthage, with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to St. William of Vercelli Catholic Church, 4088 NW Loop, Carthage, TX 75633, or to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 409 Saint John St., Bunkie, LA 71322.

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