John Thomas LaRoe

Mr. John Thomas LaRoe, age 92 passed away at home on Saturday, January 11, 2025. John Thomas LaRoe was born on August 15, 1932 in Kaufman to Houston LaRoe and Geneva Leona Long. He was first married to Sherli Jeanne Jones in May 29, 1954 in Kaufman, Texas. He later married Sally Breeden Hersey on June 16, 1979. 

John was raised in the Kaufman Church of Christ and was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ no matter what location he lived in. John served in the Marine Corps Reserves from 1952-1954, he then served in the Army from 1954-1956, Army Reserves 1956-1957, Texas Air National Guard beginning in 1957 up until November of 1960 and was finally discharged from the US Air Force in November of 1960. 

While in the Texas Air National Guard, his civilian job was with IBM. He was trained in missile impact prediction systems, microwave radio equipment repair and computer programming. John was a computer programmer for IBM at NASA during many of the space missions and was part of the team to program the computers on the first space shuttle. This led to the success of the First Manned Orbital Flight of the Space Shuttle. He worked for IBM until the 1990’s, when he retired and went back as a contractor for a few years. 

After full retirement, he volunteered at many local civic associations in Terrell.

John is survived by his daughters Elizabeth and Michele LaRoe, his son John Thomas Laroe Jr., grandchildren Lyndsay LaRoe, Evan Howington, Sarah LaRoe and great granddaughter Skylar LaRoe.

He was preceded in death by spouse Sally LaRoe, parents Houston and Geneva LaRoe, sister Mary Sparks, and nephew Kenneth Sparks.

 The funeral service for John Thomas LaRoe, of Terrell will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ with Jordan Woodruff officiating. Interment will follow at Fox Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 5-7PM at Goggans Funeral Home. Mr. John Thomas LaRoe, age 92 passed away at home on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

 The online register book can be signed at www.goggansfh.com

 Arrangements are under the direction of Goggans Funeral Home.