Josephine “Josie” Slonaker passed away on 28 December 2018 after a lengthy illness. She was born on 25 February 1935 in Corpus Christi, TX to James E. Wilburn and Mary Delgado.
She graduated from Corpus Christi High School and went on to work for the city as a records keeper.
In early 1963 she started working for the Army Aeronautical Depot Maintenance Center (ARADMAC) as a key punch operator. It was there she met the love of her life, Charles Slonaker. ARADMAC would later become the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) and Josie excelled in her field in the computer room and became shift supervisor before an accident ended her work career. She then focused her attention on her family, doing everything she could to make sure they were taken care of.
After the death of her husband in 1980, she found purpose in seeing to the needs of her father, her sister and brothers as well as her two children. Her days were spent going to the different homes, making food, shopping for groceries all the while keeping a stable home.
One by one, as her family responsibilities were getting less and less, she continued to find other things to occupy her interests. She was an avid contributor to the Texas Cactus Club and St Paul the Apostle Church. She loved fishing, playing poker and pinochle, traveling through Mexico, watching the Dallas Cowboys and being with her friends - of which she had many. She also loved cooking, and she was very good at it, even winning awards for some of her recipes.
From 1986 until her last breath, she courageously fought against recurring cancer. But, unfortunately, she couldn’t keep the fight going forever.
Josie was preceded in death by her father, mother, her husband, Charles Slonaker, her sister, RoseMary (C.G.) Oliveira, and her brother, Charley Wilburn. She is survived by her brother, James (Elia) Wilburn, Jr., her son Edward J. (Kim) Slonaker, her daughter, Sharon M. Slonaker, her grandchildren, Breven Glasgow and Sydney Glasgow as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In honor of Josephine’s wishes, services will take place privately among family.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that donations be made in her name to the American Cancer Society.
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