1933-2026
James Arnold (Jim) Block, with Angels in hand, completed his life's journey on March 10, 2025. He was filled with gratitude and joy always. He was born on July 18, 1933, in the farming community of Olfen, TX to Paul and Hattie Matthiesen Block. He was the youngest of six children. Dad cherished the memories of helping his father haul loads of rocks from the fields that had been plowed up. He took pride in laying out terraces for contour farming. He shared the responsibilities of cotton hoeing, cotton picking, and harvesting grain. At 12 years old, he built a Soap Box Derby racer for the mayor-sponsored race in Ballinger, and he was proud of his second-place win. He attended Olfen School and completed high school at Ballinger High, graduating in 1951. During the drought years, he designed and helped build a chicken broiler house with his dad and Wilbert. They raised about 3,000 chickens, selling them to markets.
In February 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, with Boot Camp at the U.S. Naval Training Center in San Diego, CA, completing training June 3, 1953. He was assigned to the destroyer escort USS Edmonds DE 406 for 33 months during the Korean Conflict. He was part of the Navy's operation that witnessed and was radiation-exposed to the first and only Hydrogen Bomb detonation test by the USA while serving on The USS Edmonds. In 2025 he received from the Secretary of Defense, the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal and Atomic Veterans Service Certificate in recognition of his role in supporting the USA nuclear deterrence program. He made three tours of duty to the Far East, with Pearl Harbor, HI, as his home port.
On April 28, 1956, he married his sweetheart, Lillian Evelyn Zak of Rowena, TX.
He returned to duty, and Lillian worked at the San Angelo National Bank until September 1956. Upon reassignment to the USS Marshall DD676 in May 1956, he completed his fourth tour of duty in the Far East, returning to San Diego in September 1956. They moved to Chula Vista and Long Beach, CA. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in March 1957 with the rating of E-6 Machinist Mate First Class Petty Officer. After the Navy, Dad and Mom moved to Chicago, where he attended Greer Technical Institute for one year, transferring to the University of Houston College of Technology, balancing classes with an evening job. They had four children all attending Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary and High School and became part of the Mt. Carmel Parish family in 1962. He owned his own business in commercial and industrial air conditioning and heating from 1970 until 1993 and then worked at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Houston until retirement in 2006. In 2004 they reacquired the Block Family Farm and moved to Olfen to live in the original farmhouse.
He committed his life to service through the Knights of Columbus and VFW. He made lasting friends and was a friend to everyone and greeted all with the huge words, “Well, Hellooooo.” Dad battled several types of cancer for over eight years. He truly was Block Strong, and his complaints were non-existent.
James is survived by his children, Martha, Steven (Olfen), and Michelle Lile (OP, KS), and son-in-law, Frank Naugle (Kinnelon, NJ). He has five precious grandchildren; Tyler Lile (SLC, UT), Taylor Brancato (Michael) (Lee’s Summit, MO) and Lauren Lile of (OP, KS), Christian Naugle (Morristown, NJ) Lindsay Naugle (Hoboken, NJ) and brother-in-law William Zak (Del Rio). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Hattie Block, his loving wife, Lillian (2016), and daughter Melinda Naugle (2005), brothers, sisters and sisters-in-law, Wilbert Block (Doris), Andrew Block (Carmen), Gladys Gray (Howard), Sister Pauline Block and Frances Kocich (Weldon); also brothers-in-law Victor Zak, Robert Zak and sister-in-law Ruby Zak.
He faced challenges with courage and faith and was “Block Strong”. “He would never ask, “Why me Lord”, but would say “Try me Lord”.
Pall Bearers will be: Alan Block Sr., Michael Block, John Kocich, Marcus Kocich, Tyler Lile, James Matthiesen, Christian Naugle, Mike McNeil, and Frank Naugle.
The Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be at St Boniface Catholic Church on Saturday March 14, 2025, at 9:30 AM, with burial in the Olfen Catholic Cemetery.
