Joseph Albert Volz

Joseph/Joe was born on August 29, 1924, in Coldwater, Ohio to Joseph and Leona Volz. He was the middle child of 5 children (Jack, Jim, Joe, Marge and Alberta) and is survived by his sister, Marge Hoenie of Huntsville, Ohio. Blanche, the love of Joe's life, was married to him for 69+ years and proceeded him in death on May 18, 2016. He missed her greatly and as he approached the end, he was excited that he would be reunited with her in Heaven. Joe is also survived by his three children and their spouses; Ed (Lyn), Suzanne Herberg(Larry) and Bruce(Beth), 9 grandchildren and 10 great grand children. Following Blanche's death, he moved to Everett, WA. to live with Ed and Lyn until his death. Joe loved each and every member of his family individually, all his grandchildren and their friends simply called him grandpa. He was a wise counselor, benefactor, advisor and friend to all.
Joe enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Coldwater High School and was sent by train to San Diego, CA for Basic Training.

On the train ride to California he was most impressed by the people along the way who treated the recruits with an outpouring of good wishes and sandwiches. When Joe spoke of his time in San Diego he always remembered the "Prawns on a Stick" which, he explained, were like nothing you ever imagine in Coldwater, Ohio. From San Diego he was sent to Whidbey Island and later Bremerton, WA where he met and married Blanche Kinnear. While in Bremerton he was assigned to the battleship, USS West Virginia, BB 48. Joe was an Electricians Mate 2d class (EM2) and fireman, during his service aboard the battleship. He fought in most of the major sea battles in the Pacific, including; The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of Surigao Straits, Okinawa Invasion, Battle of Mindora, Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Japan. He had many war stories and liked to tell them later in his life. He talked about the 500 lb bomb that crashed through the ships deck and stopped in the room he was in blocking the doorway and his escape, only to turn out to be a dud. He is memorialized on the United States Navy Memorial website at; http://navylog.navymemorial.org/user. After his discharge in 1948 he was called back into the service during the Korean War. He served in the Navy from December 1942 until his final discharge on August 19, 1952.
Following his return to civilian life and move back to Seattle he held several jobs, including Bible salesman, insurance agent, floor sweeper and eventually his career occupation at Boeing. Through much effort and training he was promoted to a Supervisor position and transferred to Boeing's Everett plant. He was in charge of maintaining all machinery and was the first supervisor overseeing the Gemcorp project which brought new technolgy to the wings manufacturing for the 747. Boeing sent him to France and Germany to oversee the purchase of te Gemcorp Riveters. Joe was highly regarded and respected by both his staff of mechanics and electricians as well as his bosses. He retired in 1982.
Among his life's pleasures were first and foremost his family. Always busy he built a double car garage, remodeled their home, built a 20' cabin cruiser and purchased a 42' salmon charter boat, which ran out of Grays Harbor in Westport, Wa. He loved salmon fishing and spent lots of time salmon fishing aboard his boat, the Smoky Jo, which was his nickname as a high school basketball player at Coldwater High School. He was "smokin hot" with his two hand push shot. Joe loved gardening, raising beautiful fuscias, begonias and vegetable gardens. He also enjoyed playing golf and rode trips with Blanche.
Joe was a long time active member of St. Madeline Catholic Church in Bellevue, WA and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He loved his church friends some of whom were also his longtime cribbage partners. Joe prayed his rosary everyday and at night he was comforted by his prayers when he couldn't sleep. Above all he was saved by the grace of God and trusted in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.