Joseph F. Humphrey

Joseph F. Humphrey, a lifelong resident of Stony Point, NY passed away peacefully surrounding by family and the caring hands of the VA staff at Castle Point on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Joe was born in Highland Falls on November 15, 1922, he was 92.He was the beloved husband of 70 years to Margaret (Avery) who survives him; he is survived by his two sons Gary of Montgomery, NY and his wife Dorothy, and James of Palm City, Florida and his wife JoAnn. He was predeceased by his beloved daughter Sharon. He is survived by his grandchildren Eric (Christine) Humphrey, and Sara (Craig) Benson, Jaclyn Humphrey-Spiecker and Jason Humphrey and his adored great-grandchildren Ella, Lyla, Grace, Bailey, Tris, Cheyenne and Leigha. Joe loved his family above all else.Joe graduated from Highland Falls High School in 1940; he attended Syracuse and NYU for engineering courses and attended Parsons School of Design. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942, served in the South Pacific from 1942-1945, Fifth Air Force with the 565th S.A.W. battalion attached to the 339th interceptor Fighter Squadron. He also served in Australia, New Guinea, New Britain as a 514 radar operator where he attached to the 1st Marines 5th Regt. Corps at Cape Gloucester. Joe was a proud World War II veteran and loved his country. Joe retired from the Palisades Interstate Park Commission in 1975. His career with the PIPC was as a supervisor of Stony Point Battlefield, Assistant Park Superintendent of Bear Mountain State Park, and Park Superintendent of Lake Welch in Harriman State Park. After retiring from PIPC he enjoyed working at the United States Military Academy at West Point for the engineering and environmental section as a foreman of utilities (1976-1985). While there he designed the medal to be used for the Post Engineering of the Year Award and was the first recipient of this prestigious award in 1980.Joe was very active throughout his life within the Stony Point community. He coached in the Stony Point Little League for his sons. He was a former member of Wayne Hose Co #1 Fire Department and was on the new 9W firehouse building interior committee (1954-55). Joe was past quartermaster, past historian and life member of Charles R. Lewis VFW Post 8997 and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Post 98 in Congers. Joe was very proud of the history of Stony Point and was instrumental assisting the VFW in the design of the "Minuteman" statue and the VFW memorial cannon in the Stony Point Memorial Park. Joe also designed the existing "Welcome to Stony Point" historic signs on 9W and Rt 210.Two years ago, Rose Memorial Library of Stony Point honored Joe with a display of his many art works depicting the history of Stony Point.We all will miss his bright smile, stories and we will all "KEEP THE FAITH"Family will receive visitors on Friday from 4-8pm at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home, Stony Point, NY. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Gregory's Church, Saturday at 10am. Burial will follow at Mt. Repose Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joe's name may be made to the Rose Memorial Library in Stony Point.