OBITUARY FOR JOHN WAYNE CHAUFFE
John Wayne Chauffe died peacefully on September 7, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Wayne was born on Christmas Eve, 1943 at the Ruth Plantation, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana to Earl & Carmen (Dauterive) Chauffe.
Wayne attended University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL Lafayette), getting a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He met his “lovely bride”, Iris Mary LaTour, while they were both students at USL. They were married on February 12, 1966, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ville Platte, Louisiana.
They were the proud parents of two sons, John and Stephen. He proudly supported his sons in various sports, band, and other activities.
Wayne and Iris moved to Helotes, Texas (suburb of San Antonio), where Wayne began his career with the United States Air Force as a civilian employee. In 1969, he received a Master’s degree in Engineering from Trinity University in San Antonio. He was a licensed Texas Professional Engineer.
Wayne rose in the civilian ranks of Federal Civil Service, achieving managerial status, first as Chief of the Programs Management Division of the Air Force Cryptologic Support Center. Later, he was the senior officer to establish the Computer Security mission, successfully moving the function and resources from Gunter AFB, AL to the Electronic Security Command in San Antonio.
He was assigned as Chief, COMSEC Engineering Division and later, as Chief, Future Systems Division. He retired as Director of Programs and Engineering in 1999, from the Cryptologic Systems Group, Air Intelligence Agency, San Antonio, Texas.
Wayne was blessed with many interests and talents. He played the harmonica, sang in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (Helotes) choir, wired the church hall for sound, to name a few. He became involved in the Helotes Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief for several years. He was also involved in the effort to incorporate Helotes, which was successful. He later served on the Helotes City Council as Mayor Pro Tempore.
Upon retirement, Wayne and Iris moved to Georgetown, Texas, within the Sun City community. Wayne became involved in the Ham Radio Club, call sign AC5RP, enjoying many hours exchanging war stories with other Ham operators. He belonged to Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Wayne and Iris were blessed with 5 grandchildren. They were the delight of his life, enjoying teaching them how to make gumbo, taking them to swim lessons and plays, going to band concerts and baseball games, to name a few. He also enjoyed cooking breakfasts of pancakes, eggs, and bacon when they all came over for sleepovers.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Lloyd and Roland; his brothers-in-law, Terry Mayeux and Jerry Davis; sisters-in-law, Dolores Lorio Chauffe and Marie Elaine LaTour; and nephew, Peter Mayeux; and his lifelong friend, Larry James LeBlanc, fellow engineer and ham radio operator.
He is survived by his wife, his two sons, John (Carolyn) and Stephen (Keri), and his five grandchildren, Emily (Grey), Camyron (Adam), Elizabeth, Will, and Hank (Berkley). He is also survived by his sisters Nell Mayeux, Opelousas, Louisiana and Elaine Davis, Midland, Texas., and by his brother Tom (Druscilla), Birmingham Alabama; sisters-in-law Jerry Fournet Chauffe, Slidell, Louisiana and Catherine La Tour (Richard Zeutenhorst), Arlington, Virginia; two brothers-in-law, Raymond LaTour (Suzanne), Basile,Louisiana and Edmund LaTour (Pam), Hendersonville, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind life-long friend, Fr. Paul Patin, SJ.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated for family and friends on October 17 at 11am at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church in Andice, Texas. Burial will be in the St. Bernard Catholic Church Cemetery in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, at a later date.