Billy Joe "BJ" Voshalike, 94, of the Brushy Community near Columbus, Texas, passed away on October 1, 2022 at his home.
He was born on November 10, 1927 as the first-born child to Joseph Columbus Voshalike and Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike in Cisco, Texas. He married Clara Bow Thomas on April 3, 1954. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in the Pleasant Valley community of Amarillo.
BJ was a welder from the time he served on the U.S.S. Ajax in 1945 until he retired from Dorchester Gas Company in the late 80's; yes, a welder at a gas plant, that tells you something of his skill. "Dad could fix anything", and in his retirement years this ability was a blessing to family and friends when something broke.
During his service in the U.S. Navy, he experienced what would later give him the title of 'Atomic Veteran' by witnessing the Atomic Bomb tests Alpha and Beta aboard the U.S.S. Ajax near the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific in 1946. BJ was an active member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans and the National Rifle Association.
"If it's not hunting season, you go fishing", and both were his favorite pastimes; From elk hunting in Washington state, and salmon fishing on the Columbia River in Washington state to a quiet morning fishing for bass, catfish, and perch at the family's local tank near Fayetteville, Texas, there was never a bad trip; not even the time he and a buddy ventured out into the breakwaters of the Columbia.
BJ's greatest joy, however, was in the role of Grampa, and Great-grampa. Whatever the event, whatever the vacation, it was best if the grands were there.
BJ is survived by his son Bill E. Voshalike and wife Kathy Miller Voshalike of the Brushy Community and his daughter Elesa Ann (Voshalike) Boyer and husband Thomas Boyer of Vancouver, Washington; Grandchildren Crystal Marie Boyer and Thomas Boyer; and Great Grandchildren Alainna Boyer and Isaiah Boyer, all of Vancouver, Washington; and sister-in-law Nema Jo Hill of Cartersville, Georgia and his beloved four-legged walking buddy, Cici.
He was preceded in death by his wife Clara, father Joseph Columbus Voshalike, mother Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike, brothers: Johnny and wife Joyce, Dean and wife "Dusty", Bobby; and sister Betty Mason and husband Donald and brother-in-law George Schank.
He was born on November 10, 1927 as the first-born child to Joseph Columbus Voshalike and Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike in Cisco, Texas. He married Clara Bow Thomas on April 3, 1954. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in the Pleasant Valley community of Amarillo.
BJ was a welder from the time he served on the U.S.S. Ajax in 1945 until he retired from Dorchester Gas Company in the late 80's; yes, a welder at a gas plant, that tells you something of his skill. "Dad could fix anything", and in his retirement years this ability was a blessing to family and friends when something broke.
During his service in the U.S. Navy, he experienced what would later give him the title of 'Atomic Veteran' by witnessing the Atomic Bomb tests Alpha and Beta aboard the U.S.S. Ajax near the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific in 1946. BJ was an active member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans and the National Rifle Association.
"If it's not hunting season, you go fishing", and both were his favorite pastimes; From elk hunting in Washington state, and salmon fishing on the Columbia River in Washington state to a quiet morning fishing for bass, catfish, and perch at the family's local tank near Fayetteville, Texas, there was never a bad trip; not even the time he and a buddy ventured out into the breakwaters of the Columbia.
BJ's greatest joy, however, was in the role of Grampa, and Great-grampa. Whatever the event, whatever the vacation, it was best if the grands were there.
BJ is survived by his son Bill E. Voshalike and wife Kathy Miller Voshalike of the Brushy Community and his daughter Elesa Ann (Voshalike) Boyer and husband Thomas Boyer of Vancouver, Washington; Grandchildren Crystal Marie Boyer and Thomas Boyer; and Great Grandchildren Alainna Boyer and Isaiah Boyer, all of Vancouver, Washington; and sister-in-law Nema Jo Hill of Cartersville, Georgia and his beloved four-legged walking buddy, Cici.
He was preceded in death by his wife Clara, father Joseph Columbus Voshalike, mother Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike, brothers: Johnny and wife Joyce, Dean and wife "Dusty", Bobby; and sister Betty Mason and husband Donald and brother-in-law George Schank.
Billy Joe "BJ" Voshalike, 94, of the Brushy Community near Columbus, Texas, passed away on October 1, 2022 at his home.
He was born on November 10, 1927 as the first-born child to Joseph Columbus Voshalike and Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike in Cisco, Texas. He married Clara Bow Thomas on April 3, 1954. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in the Pleasant Valley community of Amarillo.
BJ was a welder from the time he served on the U.S.S. Ajax in 1945 until he retired from Dorchester Gas Company in the late 80's; yes, a welder at a gas plant, that tells you something of his skill. "Dad could fix anything", and in his retirement years this ability was a blessing to family and friends when something broke.
During his service in the U.S. Navy, he experienced what would later give him the title of 'Atomic Veteran' by witnessing the Atomic Bomb tests Alpha and Beta aboard the U.S.S. Ajax near the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific in 1946. BJ was an active member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans and the National Rifle Association.
"If it's not hunting season, you go fishing", and both were his favorite pastimes; From elk hunting in Washington state, and salmon fishing on the Columbia River in Washington state to a quiet morning fishing for bass, catfish, and perch at the family's local tank near Fayetteville, Texas, there was never a bad trip; not even the time he and a buddy ventured out into the breakwaters of the Columbia.
BJ's greatest joy, however, was in the role of Grampa, and Great-grampa. Whatever the event, whatever the vacation, it was best if the grands were there.
BJ is survived by his son Bill E. Voshalike and wife Kathy Miller Voshalike of the Brushy Community and his daughter Elesa Ann (Voshalike) Boyer and husband Thomas Boyer of Vancouver, Washington; Grandchildren Crystal Marie Boyer and Thomas Boyer; and Great Grandchildren Alainna Boyer and Isaiah Boyer, all of Vancouver, Washington; and sister-in-law Nema Jo Hill of Cartersville, Georgia and his beloved four-legged walking buddy, Cici.
He was preceded in death by his wife Clara, father Joseph Columbus Voshalike, mother Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike, brothers: Johnny and wife Joyce, Dean and wife "Dusty", Bobby; and sister Betty Mason and husband Donald and brother-in-law George Schank.
He was born on November 10, 1927 as the first-born child to Joseph Columbus Voshalike and Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike in Cisco, Texas. He married Clara Bow Thomas on April 3, 1954. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in the Pleasant Valley community of Amarillo.
BJ was a welder from the time he served on the U.S.S. Ajax in 1945 until he retired from Dorchester Gas Company in the late 80's; yes, a welder at a gas plant, that tells you something of his skill. "Dad could fix anything", and in his retirement years this ability was a blessing to family and friends when something broke.
During his service in the U.S. Navy, he experienced what would later give him the title of 'Atomic Veteran' by witnessing the Atomic Bomb tests Alpha and Beta aboard the U.S.S. Ajax near the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific in 1946. BJ was an active member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans and the National Rifle Association.
"If it's not hunting season, you go fishing", and both were his favorite pastimes; From elk hunting in Washington state, and salmon fishing on the Columbia River in Washington state to a quiet morning fishing for bass, catfish, and perch at the family's local tank near Fayetteville, Texas, there was never a bad trip; not even the time he and a buddy ventured out into the breakwaters of the Columbia.
BJ's greatest joy, however, was in the role of Grampa, and Great-grampa. Whatever the event, whatever the vacation, it was best if the grands were there.
BJ is survived by his son Bill E. Voshalike and wife Kathy Miller Voshalike of the Brushy Community and his daughter Elesa Ann (Voshalike) Boyer and husband Thomas Boyer of Vancouver, Washington; Grandchildren Crystal Marie Boyer and Thomas Boyer; and Great Grandchildren Alainna Boyer and Isaiah Boyer, all of Vancouver, Washington; and sister-in-law Nema Jo Hill of Cartersville, Georgia and his beloved four-legged walking buddy, Cici.
He was preceded in death by his wife Clara, father Joseph Columbus Voshalike, mother Willie Martice (Kurklin) Voshalike, brothers: Johnny and wife Joyce, Dean and wife "Dusty", Bobby; and sister Betty Mason and husband Donald and brother-in-law George Schank.
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