Jabe Paul Tidwell 1933-2023

Jabe Paul Tidwell, 90, of Mineola passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 14, 2023.

Paul was born on Oct. 9, 1933 in Longview to Jabe and Dessa Mae Tidwell. He graduated from Duncan High School and went on to study geology at the University of Oklahoma. He married Sandra Clark 67 years ago on April 1, 1956.

Paul grew up in East Texas and southern Oklahoma as his father Jabe was transferred from one small oil field town to another. He enjoyed the piney woods of East Texas and all the outdoor activities available to him of which fishing was his favorite. He played football at Duncan High School where he humorously described himself as “small but slow.” While attending college he was in the Air Force ROTC and aspired to be a pilot. There he met Sandra and the rest is history. He was able to achieve his dream of flying and was trained as a jet fighter pilot eventually serving a tour in Okinawa, Japan shortly after the Korean War ended. Flying was a true love of his and he would have stayed in the Air Force if he could have continued to fly planes. When his service ended, he began a distinguished career in the energy business. He started with Humble Oil and Refining (Exxon) as a petroleum geologist. His career involved many moves across Texas, Louisiana and Colorado. He eventually left Exxon to become president of Paraffin Oil and Gas and finished his career as president of Williams Exploration Company. Paul always hoped to return to his roots in East Texas, so he and Sandra moved to Mineola in 1992 where they enjoyed many years of retirement with old and new friends. In retirement, he had many happy years of flying his two airplanes, fishing and working their Mineola property. He loved visits from his family and especially those from his two granddaughters.

Paul is survived by his wife, Sandra; his son, Chad; daughter-in-law, Ann; and granddaughters, Caroline and Elise.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jabe and Dessa Tidwell, and his brother, Charles Jefferson Tidwell.

A celebration of life was held at Stwart Family Funeral Home on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, Texas.