Obituary of Billy Russell Algoe

Billy Russell Algoe was born on Feb. 9, 1934, in Barboursville, W.V., and passed away on September 26, 2019 at Valley Baptist Hospital in Brownsville, TX., while living on South Padre Island, TX. with his son, Randy. His father was Howard Taft Algeo (a shade tree mechanic and Baptist preacher) and his mother was Mary Lee “Bessie” Wroten-Algeo. He was the 3rd of 13 children born to this couple (3 died as infants), and only the 2nd of the adult children to now pass. His siblings, oldest to youngest, are: Ernest Jackson “Jack” Algeo, Rosalie Algeo-Safford, Mary Algeo (died as infant), Shirley “Joe” Algoe, Tex Ritter Algoe, two unnamed children who died as infants, Howard Taft “Jr” Algeo, Grace Marie Algoe-Penny (deceased), Betty Alberta Algeo-Aikey, Charles Eugene “Davy” Algoe/Algeo, and Ruth Ann “Peaches” Algeo-Stewart. His nieces and nephews are too numerous to list here.

In 1952 he joined the Air Force and became a jet mechanic instructor, reaching the rank of Staff Sgt., stationed in Amarillo, TX. At the same time, he was a Golden Gloves boxing champion in three states. With his first wife, Shirley Sites, they had one son, Russell W. Algoe (b. 06-16-1956 - d. 03-14-2019 W.V.). With his second wife, Bertha May Barnes, they had five sons, Ricky, Rocky (d. Jan 11, 1992 unmarried), Randy (Quanna Anglin), Roger (deceased as infant), and Robin. With his third wife, Madel Chavez, they had one son, Billy Joe Algoe/Hilbolt. – Russell never married, but had one daughter, Olivia Marie Algoe-Dean. Ricky had one son, Brandon, with his first wife, Kim Fry, and three sons, Jacob, Levi, and Elijah, with his second wife, Rebecca Albin. Billy Joe married Jenifer McWilliams, and they have one daughter, Cassandra, and one son, Ethan.

In 1967 he was part of a team of divers/salvors that found and began salvage work of three Spanish Galleons that sank in a storm in 1554 off of South Padre Island, TX. The State of Texas then shut them down and took their treasure - and so much more. A documentary is now being made to tell the true story of how these adventurers were robbed of their treasure, their dignity, and their place in history. He was in failing health due to kidney disease, and so a rush to do his and two of his partner’s (Billy Kenon and Kirk Purvis) interviews for the documentary was done just 6 weeks before he passed away. – After the shut-down, he started a commercial scuba diving business called “Treasure Island Divers” and raised his sons, Ricky, Rocky, and Randy as commercial divers in his shadow. At the same time, he also bought the first gas station on South Padre Island from Red Kent (a Gulf station at the time), changing brands and calling it “Treasure Island Texaco.” – He became a local legend of South Padre Island for so much more than the treasures though. Yes, he worked long hard hours, but he played hard too. He was fun loving to the extreme. He would do just about anything to make people laugh and have a good time, and many times, self-deprecatingly to accomplish that goal. If you teased him he would laugh even harder than you would – and then he’d tell others about it to extend the laughter for all it was worth. Everyone that knew him has a story or two to tell about their adventures with him. His legacy will live on in all of our hearts for all time.

It is only now that your eternal journey begins Dad, so until we catch up to you again, from your adoring family, we expect that you will be inviting all your friends that have passed before you, like David Friedman, aboard your heavenly vessel “Just Do It” to help you hoist those sails to then plow full steam ahead through the oceans of heaven to discover the treasures God has in store for you. But through your adventures, know, that YOU Dad, are the real treasure of our lives. You have enriched our souls beyond imagination, and we love you profusely! ~ Signed: Your sons.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with a Chapel service to begin at 10:00 a.m. at Chapel by the Sea located at 33425 State Park Road 100, South Padre Island, Texas.

You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort, flowers, or sympathy cards to the family of Billy Algoe at: www.thomaegarza.com.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematory, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.