Joseph Lewis Fry

Joseph Lewis Fry was born August 18, 1922 in Charleston, West Virginia, to Cleveland Snyder and Alice (Hager) Fry, the youngest of their four children. He was blessed with 94 years, 7 months, and 11 days on this earth. He spent most of his childhood in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and attended Parkersburg High School, where he was a track star. On his 20th birthday in 1942, he joined the US Marine Corps, and shipped out to Parris Island, SC, for boot camp. Upon completion of his training there, he shipped out to Camp Pendleton, CA, and then on to combat action service in the Pacific during WWII, serving in Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Guam, and New Zealand. He was honorably discharged as a Private First Class from the Marine Corps on October 4, 1945.

On September 20, 1945, he married Thelma Motley, who also served honorably during WWII as a WAVE in the US Navy.

After his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1945, he returned to Parkersburg, West Virginia, and began a successful career as a printer for the Parkersburg News. While in Parkersburg, he welcomed the birth of his two sons, Joseph Sherman on 12/14/1946, and Larry Paul on 8/25/1951. In 1956, he moved to Detroit, Michigan, and worked as a printer for the next 28 years for the Detroit News. He retired from the Detroit News on his 62nd birthday on August 18, 1984, and moved back to his beloved Parkersburg, West Virginia, the next day.

Joe spent his retirement years in Parkersburg enjoying bowling with his friends on weekly leagues, serving in his local Methodist Church as the Treasurer and distributing sermon tapes weekly to shut-ins, and spending time with his older sisters Nancy and Frances.

In 2012, Joe left Parkersburg at the age of 90, and began living with his son, Larry, in Indianapolis, IN, for half the year and Joseph, in Ukiah, CA, for the other half.

Joe was blessed with 7 grandchildren: Joseph David, Timothy Wayne, Andrea Christine, Jill McBain, Meredith Ruth, Emily Kateland, and Daniel Paul, their spouses Linda, Cathy, David, Dan, Joey, and Chris; 12 great-grandchildren here on earth (Allie, Jaren, Eli, Vivian, Andrew, Garrett, Elliott, Kendall, Molly, Jude, Carter, and Grayson, who was born on his 93rd birthday, August 18, 2015) who adored him and loved nothing better than spending time with the “World’s Greatest Grandpa.” His grandson, Myles, was waiting for him at Heaven’s Gate last Wednesday, March 29th.

Joe was an active member of the International Printers Union for nearly 75 years, a member of the Parkersburg, WV, American Legion, and Brownsburg, IN, American Legion Post # 331, and a member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Parkersburg, WV.

His sons Joseph and Larry, daughters-in-laws Deanna and Pam, grandchildren and their spouses, and great-grandchildren were extremely proud of his service to our country as a WWII US Marine. His sons and some of his grandchildren traveled with him to the inaugural opening of the WWII Monument in Washington, DC.

A few years later, on August 18, 2009 on his 87th birthday, he and his son Larry participated in the Honor Flight Program, flying to DC to see this monument once again, and meeting with Senator Bob Dole and his fellow WWII veterans on this day.

Our family loves him beyond measure and will miss “our Marine” sorely; he left a rich legacy of unforgettable stories, memories from WWII, thousands of card games full of fun and laughter in every moment we spent with him. We take comfort in knowing we will all see him again and spend eternity with him, and will once again, hear him say at the end of the card game….“I got mine.”

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Joseph’s memory to the Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Southwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.