Joseph “Joe” Harry Vandermark, 73, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2020.
He was born on November 6, 1947 in Beaver Falls, he was the eldest of seven children born to the late Harry and Helen (Whiteman) Vandermark.
Joe graduated from Smethport Area Joint High School in 1965. Two years later he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was an EN 2nd Class serving on the USS Durham and was awarded several letters of commendation before he was honorably discharged in March of 1971.
Upon leaving the Navy he moved to the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania and met Patricia “Patty” Ann Rigo. They were married on February 10, 1973 in Marianna.
During that five-decade span, Joe was almost in constant motion. He and Patty had two sons, William and Frank. He owned and operated Vandermark’s Service Station on Main Street in Bentleyville for more than 20 years. He also worked for the Bentworth School District in multiple capacities for 23 years before retiring in 2005.
There was no slowing down in retirement as Joe became a grandfather for the first time in 2004. In total, he was “Grampy” to nine grandchildren; seven girls and two boys.
Joe was an avid lover of the outdoors. In his younger years, his vacation time would coincide with the Pennsylvania hunting schedule and later years would find him riding his lawn tractor over an already meticulous lawn.
He had a knack for fixing anything mechanical and fielded numerous phone inquiries from his sons when they were not able to get to the house. Sundays would find him asleep in a recliner “watching” that week’s NASCAR race.
Joe enjoyed westerns of every type from a Louis L’amour novel to a John Wayne classic. He could also be found with a puzzle book or jigsaw puzzle at the ready.
Surviving is his wife, Patricia, of 47 years, two sons; William (Teresa) Vandermark and Frank (Angel) Vandermark, nine grandchildren; Gage, Kadin, and Kiara Vandermark, Brianna Pollick, Parker Vandermark, Elizabeth Pollick, Lilyann, Hailey, and Alora Vandermark. He is also survived by four brothers; Ray (Ruth) Vandermark in Port Allegany, Dennis (Kathy) Vandermark in Lebanon, Gerald (Margaret) Vandermark in Cyclone, Donald (Lu) Vandermark in Farmer’s Valley and a sister, Rose Soules, in Eldred. He had countless nieces and nephews across the United States. He is also survived by a brother-in-law, David (Bob) Rigo in Pittsburgh.
He was predeceased by his parents, one brother and sister-in-law; Tom and Sue Vandermark, one brother-in-law, Dick Soules, his father and mother-in-law, Frank and Dessie Rigo and a brother-in-law, Frank Rigo.
Family will hold a private viewing for invited friends in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Friends are invited to attend committal services at Noon on Thursday December 17, 2020, at Fairmount Cemetery in Farmers Valley, with Rev. Seth McClymonds, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church officiating, followed by Full military honors by members of the United States Navy and the Honor Guard from the Smethport American Legion Post 138.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com