Joe Thomas Sudderth, of Leonard, passed away at the age of 81, on April 15, 2026. Joe was born on April 24,1944, to Ray Thomas and Serena Dale(Sherrell) Sudderth in Leonard, Texas.
He went to school in Leonard and Celeste. He graduated from Leonard High School. He loved the Leonard Tigers.
He joined the United States Navy when he was a junior in high school. He attended a two week summer training cruise with his two best buddies Charles McIntosh and Don Green. After high school graduation, he honorably served in the US Navy two years.
Joe married Luisa (Bilbao) Sudderth on August 8, 1964 in Rome, New York. They met on a blind date in New York when he was in the navy. Later, they had three children together, Brian, Sheri and Wade. They lived in Leonard, Pilot Point, and Nocona. Leonard was their hometown. Joe loved Leonard. He loved everything about it.
Joe attended East Texas State University for two years after getting married. He worked at the lighting company and got promoted to a service man. Later he got his real estate and broker’s license and returned to Leonard in 1972 with Lu and his three children to work at Sudderth Real Estate with his father. Later, he would go on to build four subdivisions and a motel in Leonard. He also ran the Leonard Lumber Yard and the Five Rivers Motel for a time.
Joe loved history, writing and Leonard. He dedicated a lot of time to writing for the History of Leonard books, articles called “Faded Memories” for the Leonard Graphic where he would research many things about our town.
Joe loved adventure. He went to Alaska hunting and took his workers/friends and loved ones along with him for the ride. He even tried out for Survivor once. His theme for his tryout video was “a country boy can survive” with nothing but a Dodge pickup, a fishing pole, and a shotgun beside him.
He was baptized in the Leonard Baptist church when he was 10 years old and has remained a member. He and Lu loved the trip they took to Mexico to build houses and feed the people there with the Leonard Baptist Church.
Joe will be remembered by his children, Brian Sudderth and wife, Rose, of Leonard, Texas, Sheri Watson and husband, James, of Leonard, Texas, and Wade Sudderth and wife, Vickie, of Leonard, Texas; grandchildren, Devon, David, Amanda, Jade, Logan, Payton, Preslie, Brendan, Blaise, and Brandt; great grandchildren, Averie, Case, Easton, Emory, Junior, Sophia, Liam, Mylo, Poppy, Alana, Cooper, and Willa Mae; and siblings, Elaine “Aunt Sis” Peebles, Buster Sudderth and wife, Donna, and Becky Chastain. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Luisa Sudderth; and grandchild, Joe Mac Sudderth.
A visitation will be held from 1-2PM, Monday, April 20, 2026, at the First Baptist Church in Leonard. The funeral service will start at 2PM with a burial at Leonard Cemetery to follow.