James Pike

James Ira Pike, Jr. was born in Rio Frio, Texas to James Ira Pike, Sr. and Ora Minter (Powell) Pike on January 19, 1927 in Rio Frio, Texas and passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2015 in Missouri City, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Henrietta "Peaches" (Whitaker) Pike, daughter Bonnie Jeanne Mello and son-in-law David Matthew of Fresno, Texas as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, son James Samuel Pike, brother John L. Pike and sisters Ramona Harvey and Mary Evelyn Boren. He entered the US Army in December 1945 and served as a Corporal with Company G 33rd Infantry at Fort Clayton Canal Zone - Panama until his honorable discharge in January 1947. He was a born mechanic - starting with putting an engine on a bicycle to make a "motorbike" to designing & building his own rig to drill for water at his Rio Frio ranch. He was well known around Uvalde as "the guy to take your car to if you want it fixed right the first time - he did not believe in "come-backs".. He worked for several auto dealerships until starting his own business - Pike's Auto Service - and later as Pike's Wrecker Service. He finally retired from the wrecker service in 2008 at the age of 81. He and Henrietta "Peaches" Whitaker were married after 6 dates on April 1, 1950. He would always tell people "get married on April Fool's Day - it will last!" Visitation will be held at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary on Sunday, October 11, 2015 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm with grave-side services on Monday, October 12, 2015 at 3:00 pm at the Rio Frio Cemetery in Rio Frio, Texas.

Visitation

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
220 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Sunday, October 11, 2015
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Service

Graveside

Rio Frio Cemetery
Rio Frio, TX  78879
Monday, October 12, 2015
3:00 p.m.

Cemetery

Rio Frio Cemetery
Rio Frio, TX  78879