Joel was a graduate of Massanutten Military Academy, Woodstock, Va., Class of 1979. He served in the United States Marine Corp. He was also a US Parker Ranger in the Shenandoah Valley and was a Stone Mason. He was a self-employed owner of “Stone by Joel” in Stafford, Va.
Joel enjoyed the outdoors, going to the lake with his dog Parker, and cooking. He built his own smoker and his chicken-on-a-stick became a favorite to many.
Survivors include his mother, Loretta Leoni McCullough; fiancé, Cheryl Mennona; son, Remmington McCullough; grandson, Ryan McCullough; three brothers, Terry McCullough of Benton, Mo.; J. Christopher McCullough of Terrell, Tx.; Rick McCullough of Tarentum, Pa; four sisters, Cindy McCullough of Tarentum, Pa; Cheryl Smock of Cabot, Pa; Lynne Baughman of Pasadena, Md; BethAnn Townsend of Brackenridge, Pa; nine nephews; five nieces; one great nephew; nine great nieces; one uncle, Ron Leoni; one aunt, Arlene Mazur. He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond W. McCullough.
Joel will be buried at Quantico National Cemetery.
