Jo Beth DeSoto (Plainview)

Dr. JoBeth DeSoto stepped into Glory with her Savior on December 16, 2025. Jo Beth was born August 31, 1960 to Wilma Lee Webb and John Henry Armstrong in Hobbs, New Mexico. She graduated from Hobbs High School in 1978. She then received a Bachelor’s of Music Education degree from University of New Mexico in 1983, a Master’s of Music Education degree from Texas Tech in 1988, and a PhD in Special Education from Texas Tech in 2003. She married Richard DeSoto in may 1983 and they raised two beautiful children together.

JoBeth was a lifelong educator, spending time as a band director, music teacher, special education teacher, and ultimately a professor of special education at Wayland Baptist University. She was also a certified Educational Diagnostician. She loved music and played many instruments. She was a particularly talented bassoonist, flautist, and pianist and had the voice of an angel. She loved old country music and hymns the most. JoBeth was also a talented cook and will be remembered for many dishes, especially her pies. She also loved dogs with a passion and spoiled them as often as possible. Her biggest love in all the world was her grandbabies. She was known as Nana Jo and made every effort to attend sporting events, piano recitals, band concerts, or anything else they were involved in.

JoBeth is survived by her loving husband, Richard, her daughter Libby and husband Erik, her son Ross and wife Sealey, her adopted daughter Whytney, her sister Judy and brothers Jim and Jerry, her grandchildren Caden, Luke, Miles, Olivia and Ben, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. JoBeth was proceeded in death by her parents and her brothers John and Jack.

Visitation will be held at Kornerstone Funeral Home in Plainview, TX on Friday, December 19, 2025 from 6-8pm. Memorial Service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church in Plainview, TX on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 1:00pm. The family asks that attendees do not wear all black, as JoBeth would like this time to be a celebration of her life rather than a mourning period.