Joe Don Byles, 58, died peacefully in Rowlett, Texas on July 12, 2024 from a long battle with 

diabetes complications. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on December 8, 1965. He was a linebacker in football for the Flour Bluff Hornets and was named All American Linebacker (Honorable Mentioned). Joe grew up surfing on Padre Island and graduated from

Flour Bluff High in Corpus Christi with Honors in 1984. He attended the University of Texas in Austin and graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1987. He married his high school sweetheart, Lisa Maria Ritter on August 21, 1987 in Corpus Christi. Joe worked at Weed Instruments in Round Rock, Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, CIT in Fresno, CA, Hunter Irrigation in Phoenix, AZ and SolPavers in Dallas. He worked with several other business ventures and had partnerships in various industries such as aerospace, irrigation, water conservation, the landscape/green industry, and solar. Joe’s greatest passion was inventing.  He holds over 25 US and International patents and patent pendings.  He received numerous awards for his patents including three from the US Dept. Of Energy.  Joe loved to travel the world with many trips across the US and ventures to London, Rome, Paris, Hawaii, the Bahamas and cruising the Caribbean Islands. He loved taking his family on trips to DisneyLand and DisneyWorld as well as spending summer days at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe Clarence Byles, Patsy Ann Copeland Byles, and baby brother Byles.  Survivors include his wife, Lisa, daughter Madison Hetterly, son-in-law Joseph Hetterly, son Joshua Byles and daughter Leslie Byles along with his beloved sister, JoAnn Byles Norton, niece Lauren Farrar,  great nephew Joel

and great niece Kylee. 

Graveside services and burial will be on Friday, July 19th at 11:00 am in the Kenedy Cemetery. Viewing will be held from 9:00-10:45 am at

Eckols Funeral Home in Kenedy, TX. (830)583-2533

A Memorial Service and reception will be held at St. Matthews Catholic Church officiated by his college roommate, Father Eric Ritter, in San Antonio, TX at a later date TBA.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association in honor of his name.