Joseph Pavlik

Joseph (Joe) Chadwick Pavlik, son of Joseph Cyril and Margaret Leshikar Pavlik, passed away on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Joseph was born on January 13, 1945, in Taylor, Texas. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his older sister, Josephine Anna Pavlik.  He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School where he excelled in academics and sports. Joseph graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1962 while also graduating from St. Edward’s University in Business Administration, on a 4-year scholarship.

Joseph married Jean E. Svadlenak in 1966, and they had two children, Michelle Triesch Ranzinger and Melanie Pickering.  He had two grandchildren, Maxwell and Cole Pickering. In 1981, Joseph married Vera (Betty) Margaret Barber from both Rajasthan, India and the United Kingdom.

Joseph had an amazing zest for life. Growing up, his passion for the outdoors was fueled by his father and his priest and mentor, Father Arthur Michalka. He hunted and fished with his dad and uncles at their deer lease in Burnet, Texas. In the Hill Country, there was never a cave or hole in the ground that was not explored.

Joseph worked as a pharmaceutical salesman and for a publishing company. He never outgrew his love for adventure which took him to far places like Hawaii, where he became a taro farmer and to the temperate rainforest in Washington state, where he ran an antique store. There in Washington was where met the love of his life, Betty Barber, to whom he was married for 39 years.

Returning to Taylor, Joseph ran an antique store in the building which originally housed the Pavlik family type-setting business, Merchant’s Press. Before retirement, Joseph was a truck driver traveling from one end of the country to the other. During a particularly large flooding event, Joseph saved the lives of two women resulting in receipt of the Carnegie Award for heroism.

Joseph, the hunter, the adventurer, the hero, will be sorely missed.

Donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to the Taylor City Animal Shelter, c/o Taylor Police Department, 500 S. Main, Taylor, Texas 78574

A potluck reception both inside and outside the house will follow the service at:

The Kaspar House

219 E. 8th St.

Taylor, TX

*Until 2PM*