Joyce "Joe" Morton

"Joe" Joyce L.  Morton, 90, of Cambridge, died peacefully at his home on Christmas day, December 25th, 2022.

Joe was born at home on the family farm in Darke County Ohio on November 12, 1932, the son of the late Webster and Thelma (Wolfe) Morton. He graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1950, before joining the US Marine Corp in 1951. He served in a Heavy Weapons Platoon during the Korean conflict, receiving a Purple Heart for wounds from mortar fire on Vegas Hill.  Joe then served as MP in Norfolk Virginia with a short tour in Puerto Rico.  He was discharged from the Marines in 1954 as a Corporal.

After the Marines, Joe attended University of Dayton, married his 1st wife and had 3 children.  He then married Patricia "Pat" (Gruber) Morton on March 5, 1966. Joe enjoyed a long career with NCR that included a transfer to Cambridge in 1972. Here he once again lived on a farm, raising sheep, goats, chickens, cows, etc.  Joe retired from NCR as a Project Manager in Test Engineering. He was a very active long-time member of the VFW Post 2901 in Cambridge, a Commander with the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #625, the Eagles Club #386, and he sat on the Board of the Guernsey County Veterans Service Commission.  He was a past member of the Kipling "Old Stoners" VFW.

He enjoyed helping other veterans in any way he could: posting flags at the gravesites of fallen veterans, driving veterans to VA appointments in Cleveland, helping with parades, and a member of the Guernsey County Charity Fund.  One of his great joys was participating in the VFW Voice of Democracy Essay contest.  In his younger years, Joe enjoyed bowling and boating. He read the paper every day.  He also enjoyed watching sports on TV with his cat Lil Fella on his lap: Nascar, football, baseball (remember The Big Red Machine!)  and the UD Flyers.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife Pat who passed away July 29, 2018, and his daughter Laurie (Morton)Weisner and her family.

Joe is survived by one son, Jeff (& Peggy) Morton, Sr of Middle River, MD, a daughter Cyndi (& Jon) Newman of Sarasota, FL, three sisters, Elaine (& Jim) Anderson of West Carrollton, OH, Martha (& Tom) Petkewitz of Greenville, OH, and Marlene (& Nolan) Byrd of Jasper, TX. He also leaves 8 grandchildren: Michael (& Nicole) Newman of Grosse Pointe, MI, Brian (& Brianna) Newman of Punta Gorda, FL, Mark (& Erica) Newman of Lititz, PA, Jeffrey (& Chelsea) Morton Jr of Forest Hill, MD, Jason (& Brittany) Morton of Lakeland, FL, Amanda Morton of Lehigh Acres, FL, Rob Heimbach of Lakeland, FL, and Julia Heimbach of Middle River, MD and 7 great- grandchildren: Renne, Clara, Jhett, Kashton, and Calvin Newman, Justin Henning Jr, and Wesley Morton.

The family would like to express our sincere appreciation to all of those who have helped Joe in the recent years:  to all of his VFW family; to his "houseladies" Angie, Crystal and Trinity; to his neighbors Randy and Buzz for cutting his lawn; to Rick, his Meals on Wheels driver; to Christy from the Senior Center; to Brian his trashman who always took his cans from the house to the street and back again; to his newspaper carrier who took the extra time to always tuck the newspaper inside the door.  And a special thank you to dear friend Don Campbell and an  extra special thank you to Jim Blancett.  You were the best of friends, and we are forever grateful.

A memorial service will be held January 6, 2023, at 1PM at Thorn Black Funeral Home in Cambridge. A burial will be held at the family plot in Beamsville at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the VFW Post 2901:

1427 E Wheeling Ave.

Box 302

Cambridge, OH 43725

Online Condolences can be made at www.thorn-blackfuneralhomes.com