Jasper Anthony Anniboli

Jasper Anthony Anniboli, Junior was called home by our heavenly father on May the 18th in the year of our lord, 2024.

Three quarters of a century ago, in late October of 1947 Southeast Texas welcomed a newborn Italian American, oldest son and first of seven children born to Jasper Anthony Anniboli, a first generation Italian American and Melba Faye Anniboli, a Texas native, both of whom have preceded him in death.

Jasper is survived by his wife of 45 years, Leslie “Bunny” Gail Anniboli, his son David, and granddaughter Juliet Wommack, as well as his mother in law Beverle Calhoun.

Jasper is also survived by his six siblings; brother David Anniboli, sisters: Gayle (Jimmy) Goodridge, Jane Anniboli, Linn (Johnny) Rutherford, Regina Anniboli, and brother Jack (Robyn) Anniboli. Jasper stood as Godfather for niece Kristi Gilbeaux and nephew Anthony Anniboli.

Jasper was well loved and is missed by his other nieces and nephews, who, as children, knew their uncle to be a secret source of six and a half ounce glass bottle cokes, something the following generation would learn as well. In his own youth Jasper attended Catholic School where he served as an altar boy at Immaculate Conception, he was a member of The Boy Scouts of America where he obtained the rank of Eagle Scout.

He later attended Bishop Byrne High School where he was a Letterman for the Varsity Football Team and a member of the 1965 graduating class. After high school as the Vietnam conflict escalated Jasper volunteered for the armed forces by joining the Navy, where he served his country dutifully, with honor. After leaving the Navy Jasper returned to Groves where he remained a lifelong resident. In the following years Jasper pursued a number of hobbies, excelling at most. He was a true renaissance man.

An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed camping, boating, archery, and hunting. He brewed beer, made wine, and cured jerky.  A history buff who read over 1,000 books, he enjoyed Trivia games and playing Chess. He was a caring pet owner through the years of three dogs (Bo, Bernie, Mona) and a cat (Kitty). Shortly after returning from the military Jasper began refinery work.  Before long he was hired at Gulf Oil as a machinist. Jasper was a proud Union member and would practice his trade for the next Forty years until his retirement in 2016. The vast majority of those years were spent working with the same partner, Stanley Norman, on the HF-Alky Unit. He and Stanley were known as the “Acid Freaks”. Jasper had close friendships with several other co-workers, some of whom have departed, Donnie Carter, Billy Nobles, and Mark Kavanaugh. Others left to mourn him, Al Ford and most notably Robert Stansbury. Family vacations were often spent throughout Florida visiting extended family that he cared for deeply and who loved him in turn.

Among the deceased are Charles "Bully" Calhoun, Mike Calhoun, and Grover Snodgrass.Those left to grieve are Linda Calhoun, Linda-Jean Matute, and Nita "Niki" Salmon. Jasper Anthony Anniboli Junior was a gentleman, a man of truth and honor. A humble man of courage who was generous to a fault. It is for all of this that he will be missed.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 5:00 PM till 7:30 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. Service to honor Jasper's life will be at 11:00 AM Thursday, May 23, 2024 in the Thompson Memorial Chapel at Clayton Thompson. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves.