James Dennis Worsham's Obituary
James “Dennis” Worsham, or Papa to many, was born on March 9, 1939 in Iola, Texas. He was born to parents Opal and Felix Worsham, the 7th of 12 children. As a baby, he was content to sit and play with plenty of playmates. He worked summer jobs in his teens as a ranch hand, hauling hay, and picking cotton.
He loved telling people he graduated high school 12th in his class...of 12. He and his buddies flipped a quarter the night of graduation – Houston or Dallas. He worked first at Sears & Roebuck in Houston, briefly enrolled in the police academy with HPD, then was drafted into the U.S. Army, Hell on Wheels division. He served two years of active duty in Hawaii followed by two years in reserves. On April 7, 1962, while on leave, he married his long-time girlfriend, Brooksie Tynes.
After the army, Dennis began working for Baker Oil Tools on Navigation in 1963 in several departments before retiring after almost 40 years. Post retirement, he worked part-time as a bus monitor in DPISD which gave him plenty of stories to tell. He enjoyed spending his free time with family, keeping a neat lawn, socializing with long-time friends, and traveling. In recent years, you’d rarely find him anywhere other than watching sports, westerns, or the news in his recliner.
He was a faithful member and deacon at South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena for almost 50 years. Once homebound, he watched the services through the online livestream.
He died early in the morning April 6, 2024 peacefully in bed. He is survived by his daughters, Denise Gaston, husband Jeff, and their children Shelby and Grant; Andra Ham, husband Tobin Ham, and their children Stephanie Neal and husband Austin, Melanie Bell and husband Daniel, and great-grandchildren Ellie Grace and Braden Bell.
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