Jerome Paul 'J.P.' Vogel Sr.

Jerome Paul Vogel, 93, of Vidor, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 1, 1919 to Morris and Juanita Vogel. His family moved to Texas when he was a child and he was educated in the Beaumont, Texas schools. He also took some classes at Lamar University, Texas A&M University, and attended the Defense Industrial Security Institute in Richmond, Virginia. During World War II, Vogel served 5 years with the famous 36th Division, Texas National Guard, 143rd Infantry, Company “C” from Beaumont, Texas. He was wounded twice in combat during his period of gallant service to his country, where he received the Purple Heart and numerous other military awards and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Miriam Carmack, Theresa Ridgeway and one brother, Edward Vogel. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Frances Lopez Vogel of Vidor and three children; Morris Vogel of Vidor, Miriam Vogel Hodges (Russell) of Dover, Florida, and Jerome Vogel II (Brenda) of Beaumont. He also has a “daughter of the heart,” Anna “Yvette” Gonzales (Lolo) of Kountze. Also, he is survived by seven grandchildren who all lovingly call him “DaddyBill”, a name given to him by his “daughter of the heart” Yvette when she was 2. Grandchildren are Donna Hodges Keel (Billy), Deana Hodges Moorman (James), and Donny Hodges Jr. (Anna), all of Florida; a granddaughter Amber Potvin of Beaumont and seven great-grandchildren, Justin and Bryson Keel, Rylee, Julee and Jamee (twins) Moorman, Trey and Jack Hodges all of Florida, and a great granddaughter Brooklyn Potvin of Beaumont, Texas. J.P. is also survived by many nieces and nephews, Brother-In-Law Jesse Lopez (Mary), Sisters-in-Law Elvira Krummel, Emma Orena, and Connie DeLaRosa. As a young man J.P. went to St. Anthony Catholic High School in Beaumont (now known as Monsignor Kelly High School). He retired from Mobil Oil in Beaumont where he worked for over 37 years. When he started there many years ago, it was called the Magnolia Refinery and is known today as EXXON-MOBIL. He never took a day of sick leave in all those years and was a devoted employee and eventually advanced to become director of the Safety Department. Mr. Vogel has been a member of 1st Baptist Church of Vidor for 55 years, where he served in many capacities; an usher on Sunday mornings and evenings, Sunday School Director, Training Union Director, Youth Director, and taught the 9 year old boys for many years. Memberships include: Houston Scottish Rite Bodies, York Rite Bodies, St. Timothy Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, Cashan Grotto, Arabia Shrine in Houston, El Mina Shrine in Galveston, Royal Order of Scotland, Texas Lodge of Research, York Rite College and the Order of Eastern Star. Brother Vogel was raised a Master Mason in 1955 in Tolerance Lodge No. 1165 of Beaumont, Texas and then Vidor Lodge No. 1286 of Vidor, Texas. He served as Worshipful Master of Tolerance Lodge in 1962-63 and of Vidor Lodge in 1974-75. In 1983 he was invited by the Grand Master of Texas to be on the Committee on Work, where he served as the Chairman. He also served as the District Deputy Grand Master of District 26 in 1987, where in 1992 he went on to become the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas. He was known to all Texas Masons as the “Mason’s Mason.” In his later days as a Mason, when he was asked to speak, he would always begin by saying, “God Bless America and God Bless All Texas Mason’s.” The family request in lieu of flowers to please make all donations to The Texas Masonic Children’s Hospital of Houston. Visitation for family will be from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM and guest will be received between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at the Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor, 1750 Hwy 12. The service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Vidor on 410 North Main St. in Vidor at 10:00 AM Thursday, September 6, 2012. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery.