Joseph Roy House

Joseph Roy House was born on December 19, 1944 in Dardenell Arkansas. He was born to Rose House and Master Sargent Wenzal Downs House. Joe was born into an Army Air Force family so Joe and his sister, Barbara House, spent time growing up in Karlsruhe, Germany where he graduated from Karlsrhue American High School. While living in Germany, Joe and his sister would hike through woods to a pond in the foothills of the Black Forest to watch Germans sunbathing. He and his family also visited Neuschwanstein, the castle built by King Ludwig upon which Walt Disney designed his princess castle. After graduation, Joe followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the United States Air Force. His first tour of duty found him stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, NM where he met and married Dekka Ruth Clem on May 2, 1965. It is also where his son, William Todd House was born before they were transferred to Biloxi, MS. During their time of service, Joe took his family to Oklahoma, North Dakota, Illinois, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, and a number of tours in Italy. His daughter, Susan House was born during their time in La Junta, CO. He also had one tour of service in Da Nang, Vietnam. With the exception of that tour, Dekka would pack up the family and follow him so that the family was together. In 1982, Joe retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant and he and his family settled in the place it all began, Roswell, NM. He used the education he received in the Air Force along with his love of tinkering, to work for Business Product Solutions and then Icon until he retired for good. Joe was a kind, gentle soul who was very quiet but had a great sense of humor but one had to listen closely to know. His heart went out to babies and to pets and loved to cuddle them. He would visit with his neighbors, letting them talk while he quietly pulled weeds in his yard. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Dekka. He is survived by his sister, Barbara, his son, Todd and his wife, Geneva House and by his daughter, Susan House. His grandchildren include Stephen, Brandon, and Casey House, children of Todd and Geneva House. Susan’s children, Colby and Kelsey House. There are also 5 great grandchildren. The grave side service was at South Park Cemetery in Roswell, NM with Gerry Chavez officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation to the sanctuary where his dogs are now living: Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary P.O. Box 16227 Las Cruces, NM 88004-6227.

Joseph Roy House

December 19, 1944 - July 1, 2023