J.B. Giles passed away on May 21, 2017.  He was born on December 22, 1924 in Ardmore Ok, the first of 7 children of Barney and Floy Giles.

Barney married a woman that his mother didn't like so she made them (wife, husband and 6 children) live in a tent behind her home.

One story J.B. would tell was when he was a young teen and he was walking on a road towards town.  An old man driving slowly in an old jalopy pulled alongside of J.B. and asked him if he wanted a ride.  J.B. said "No I plan on getting there today".  He said the man chased him down the road for being such a smart aleck.
J. B. like most men of the time, began working at age 14. J.B. worked many a times for .50 cents a day alongside his dad who got $1.00 a day. J.B. did not think this was fair because he did the same amount of work as his dad.

J.B. moved to San Antonio and met the woman he married, Mattie Marie Smith.  Marie's boyfriend introduced J.B. to Marie and from there J.B. knew Marie was worth having so he continued to see her.  The friend lost out at that point.  One of the locations that they would meet at was the Pig Stand on Broadway in San Antonio.  45 years later their three children held a 45 ^th wedding anniversary for them at the Pig Stand.  J.B. and Marie dated four months and decided to get married.  They were married on April 27, 1947.

J.B. was honorably discharged from the Navy where he served during World War II. He enlisted in the Air Reserve and was called up during the Korean Conflict.  J.B. was in the Air Force for 30 years before retiring.  During his time in the Air Force J.B. he achieved the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant.  Only 1% of enlisted military personnel ever reach the status of Chief Master Sergeant.  Upon retiring he and Marie moved back to San Antonio.

When they returned to San Antonio J.B. went to college at St. Phillips College and received a degree in Auto mechanics and after graduating he was hired as an automotive instructor.  J.B. retired from his second career after 12 years at St. Phillips.

J.B. still has one sibling living in San Antonio.  Any time he and his siblings would get together they would talked about old time growing up and it would entertain the children in the room.  Listening to their stories was always interesting and fun.

J.B. loved Marie and listened to her in many ways.  She taught him how to march properly for the military and how important it was to take care of his health.  She also showed him the way to go to heaven.  He was baptized in April 1950.  He stayed faithful to the Church of Christ for the rest of his life.  He helped Marie raise 3 children who also remain faithful to the church.  Their son Alan is an Elder in the Church of Christ.

J.B. has traveled the world and across the United States and has seen many things that most people will never see in their lifetime.  He purposely switched to the Air Force so that he could take Marie and the kids with him whenever he was moved to a new base.

Towards the end of his life and over five and a half years he took 24 hour care of Marie who was suffering from dementia.  He worked hard through their married years to put a plan in place that would help them stay in their own home until they no longer could.  His love for his wife kept him going through many bouts of heart problems but he continued to take care of her until the end.

J.B. came from poverty but throughout his life he made the correct decisions so he could take care of the "love of his life" in a life of ease and comfort.  He lived a good, long life and was thankful for all the special times that God and Marie bestowed upon him through the years.  He stated he had no regrets.

J.B. is preceded in death by: his beloved wife Marie, his father and mother Barney and Floy Giles, sisters Sybil Giles, Betty Raymond and Mary McDonald, and his brothers Jerry and Curtis Giles.

J.B. is remembered by three children, Vicki Harris, Alan Giles and Karin Holland.  Sons-in-laws - Gene Harris and John Holland and daughter-n-law Terri Giles. Grand-children - Raymond and Richard Harris and Erin and Emily Giles, grand-children in-laws, Mary and Texanna Harris, and 7 great grand-children.

He is also remembered by sister Zona Wilkinson and her family.

We love you dad, grand-dad, great grand-dad and brother!  We will miss you!

Donations can be made to the Central Texas Children's Home,13200 Crane RD, Buda TX 78610, 512-243-1386

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 o'clock Thursday morning, May 25, 2017 at the University Church of Christ, 115 Country Estates Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666.  A visitation with the family will begin at 10:30 AM that morning also at the church.  Graveside services will be held at 2:30 PM that afternoon in the Blanco Cemetery, with Military Honors.