James Judson Kilpatrick, 86, of Katy, passed away on June 27, 2013. He was born on Nov. 27, 1926, to James J. & Drucilla Brito Kilpatrick in Chihuahua, Mexico. His father passed away when James was only two years old and his family moved from Candlearia, Texas, to Fabens and then to El Paso. He joined the US Marine Corps on Nov. 14, 1944 and served in the Pacific during WWII, and was stationed in Japan and China after the war. After his discharge, he attended Texas Western College on the GI Bill, graduated with his Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology, with a minor in Physics.

James gained employment with Rodgers and Ray Geophysical and began working in Hallettsville, Texas. There he met and married Doris Smolik. They were married on July 28, 1951 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Billings, Montana.

James worked in the US until 1955, when he and his new family moved to Alexandria, Egypt. James later lived and worked in Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and in Australia for 10 years. He worked for Robert H. Ray Geophysics for 21 years, and later for Digicon for two years before returning to the US. Back in the US he consulted for Ashland Petroleum, Marathon Oil in Ireland for a year and a half, Patrick Petroleum, and Burton Industries. James retired from the oil business and pursued his interest in computers and his hobby of knife making.

James is survived by his wife of 61 years; his three children, James J. Kilpatrick III & wife Phyllis of Sugar Land, Sharon Lusk of Katy, and Susan Albert & husband Steve of Illinois; 2 sisters, Bettie Greffet and Drucilla Schmieder, both of Tucson, AZ; 9 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.

James was preceded in death by: his parents; and 2 sisters, Hilda Gromko and Martha Stegar.

James will be sorely missed by his family and all of the many good friends he made during his lifetime.

Funeral Mass Service: 1 pm, Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm, Monday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosary: 7 pm, Monday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Pallbearers: Jim Kilpatrick, Michael Kilpatrick, Mark Lusk, Neil Smolik, Blain Smolik, and Clarence Earl Harvey Jr. Officiate: Msgr. John Peters. Memorials: Donor's Choice. Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.