James Falco

James Falco, 79, of Navasota passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 in Navasota. Visitation at Nobles Funeral Chapel from 5-7 pm, Thursday, December 12. Funeral services at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Matthias Dinger at 10 am, Friday, December 13. Interment will follow at Oakland Cemetary. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.

James was born in Navasota, Texas to Dominick Sage Falco and Willie Mae Hoefelmeyer Falco on September 21, 1945. He is the third of three boys. His mom wanted a girl so dearly that James ended up with a pink piggy bank as a child. In high school, he played baseball, football and golf. His first job in distributive education was at A&P grocery store on Farquhar Street. After graduation he worked for MidSouth Utility Co. on N. LaSalle Street.

Drafted into the Army in October 1965, he prepared to serve our country. James went through basic training at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas and attended advanced training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma before being deployed to North Vietnam. He completed his duties with the US Army with an honorable discharge in October 1967. His children and grandchildren love watching slide shows of his days in Vietnam.

On April 18, 1971, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Gerald Discher officiating, he married Josephine Sanchez, the sister of his best friend Juaquin. James and Jo lived in Houston, where he worked for AT&T Telephone Company. When the company moved to Katy in 1975, they had Tilson Homes build their house on an extra large lot on Mockingbird Lane. They fell in love with the street name.

They finished moving to Katy on December 12, 1975. James worked at this AT&T location from January of 1976 until it closed in 1985. Looking for a new career, James started taking mail-order classes for small engine repair while he and his wife mowed lawns for nearly a year to support their family. He landed a job with Sears Roebuck & Company as a small engine repair technician, working for Sears from 1986 to 2008 when he retired. 

After almost seven years of trying for their first child, their daughter Jena Joy was born on February 10, 1978. So, now knowing what they were doing, their first son soon followed. James Joel was born September 10, 1979. Four years later, Jared Jerard came along on June 29, 1983.

As the kids grew and started playing ball, James ended up with a broken left thumb from catching Jena’s pitching. Her brothers followed in her “arm steps”, becoming pitchers on their Katy Little League teams. James loved most sports, but the Astros baseball team is his very favorite— always!

He and Jo resided in Katy for almost thirty-four years. They moved to Navasota, to his parents’ camp house, on June 21, 2009. He loved the country life.

In the good ol’ days, he and Jo enjoyed bowling and going dancing along with his parents, great uncles and aunts. They played many a Pitch card game with their friends— the Finke girls, the Paskets and the Garretts. 

James has been blessed to have all of these titles: son, brother, godchild, grandson, cousin, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, veteran, husband, godfather, son-in-law, father, father-in-law, great uncle, grandpa, great-great uncle. But, his favorite title ever was “Papa”!

James was born, baptized, confirmed, married and died in Navasota. He was Navasota bred all the way!

Special thanks and our deepest gratitude to all doctors and staff at both St. Joseph hospitals, the Navasota Hospital, and last, but not least, the Hospice Valley staff. We didn’t know you for long, but knew you to the last. 

Preceding James in death are his parents, Dominick Sage Falco and Willie Mae Falco; grandparents Charlie and Michela “Ella” Falco and Willie and Sophie Dreyer Hoefelmeyer.

James is survived by his wife of 53-plus years, Josephine Sanchez Falco; daughter Jena (Chris) Guajardo of Houston and granddaughter Brooklyn; son James Joel (Janeth) Falco of Fulshear and grandchildren Jessica (Adam) Selby and Justin; and son Jared Jerard (Ashley) Falco of Katy and grandsons Colt and Cooper. 

James also leaves behind his two brothers, Nick Falco Jr. and Charles Falco, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other loving family and friends.

Pallbearers: James Justin Falco, Colby Michael Shivok, Thomas James Fischer III (Trey), Quentin Burns, Carlos Sanchez and Greg Sanchez.

Honorary pallbearers: James Joel Falco, Jared Jerard Falco, Nick Falco Jr., Charles Falco, Juaquin Sanchez, Leon Pasket, Gilbert Mican and Joe García, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests of those who wish to express sympathy to make a donation to the American Cancer Society in celebration of James’ life.