JOSEPH CALEB UNDERWOOD
Joseph “Joe” Caleb Underwood died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012.
He will ...
He will ...
Joseph “Joe” Caleb Underwood died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012.
He will be cremated and his ashes scattered at Prairie Winds, the farm he and his wife, DeAnna “Dee” Cooper, shared for 40 years. A celebration of life honoring Joe is planned for the future.
He was born Sept. 13, 1931, in Mabscott, W.V. He was the youngest child of Mable Fanny Turner, of east Texas, and Caleb Calenzer Underwood, of West Virginia.
At age 17, on Jan. 17, 1949, he joined the U.S. Army with the permission of his mother. He served in the First Cavalry and was stationed in Japan when the Korean War began. He immediately was shipped to Korea, where he spent 18 months on active duty. He spent three and a half years in the service.
Following discharge, he subsequently attended and graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S.D., in 1957 with a bachelor of arts degree and a major in chemistry.
He married DeAnna “Dee” Cooper July 19, 1958.
In 1963, he was employed as a chemist with the Federal Food and Drug Administration in Kansas City, Mo. He retired in June 1989 after 30 years of service with the government. He also acted as union steward during the latter years of his employment.
Joe and Dee moved to Franklin County in 1972 and commuted daily to Kansas City. Joe served on his local rural water board (Rural Water District No. 4) for 14 years from 1992 to 2006.
Among Joe’s hobbies and interests were restoring a 1949 Mercury, which became a familiar sight in Ottawa, bowling, gardening and upholstering furniture.
He is preceded in death by two sisters; a half-sister; and four half- brothers.
Joe will be sorely missed by Dee, his wife of 54 years; his son, Darren Underwood and wife, Cheri, Ottawa; daughter, Shelly Myers and companion, Bill Pennewell, Lawrence; his five granddaughters, Camille, Kira, Brianne and Amber Myers, Lawrence, and Anna Underwood, Lawrence; and his sister, Kitti Wilt, San Diego.
Memorial contributions may be made to any charity of choice, or to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati OH 45250. Contributions also may be made through online at www.dav.org or by phone at (877) 426-2838 ext. 3293.
He will be cremated and his ashes scattered at Prairie Winds, the farm he and his wife, DeAnna “Dee” Cooper, shared for 40 years. A celebration of life honoring Joe is planned for the future.
He was born Sept. 13, 1931, in Mabscott, W.V. He was the youngest child of Mable Fanny Turner, of east Texas, and Caleb Calenzer Underwood, of West Virginia.
At age 17, on Jan. 17, 1949, he joined the U.S. Army with the permission of his mother. He served in the First Cavalry and was stationed in Japan when the Korean War began. He immediately was shipped to Korea, where he spent 18 months on active duty. He spent three and a half years in the service.
Following discharge, he subsequently attended and graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S.D., in 1957 with a bachelor of arts degree and a major in chemistry.
He married DeAnna “Dee” Cooper July 19, 1958.
In 1963, he was employed as a chemist with the Federal Food and Drug Administration in Kansas City, Mo. He retired in June 1989 after 30 years of service with the government. He also acted as union steward during the latter years of his employment.
Joe and Dee moved to Franklin County in 1972 and commuted daily to Kansas City. Joe served on his local rural water board (Rural Water District No. 4) for 14 years from 1992 to 2006.
Among Joe’s hobbies and interests were restoring a 1949 Mercury, which became a familiar sight in Ottawa, bowling, gardening and upholstering furniture.
He is preceded in death by two sisters; a half-sister; and four half- brothers.
Joe will be sorely missed by Dee, his wife of 54 years; his son, Darren Underwood and wife, Cheri, Ottawa; daughter, Shelly Myers and companion, Bill Pennewell, Lawrence; his five granddaughters, Camille, Kira, Brianne and Amber Myers, Lawrence, and Anna Underwood, Lawrence; and his sister, Kitti Wilt, San Diego.
Memorial contributions may be made to any charity of choice, or to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati OH 45250. Contributions also may be made through online at www.dav.org or by phone at (877) 426-2838 ext. 3293.