Obituary of Joseph W. Gill

SOUTH WESTERLO-Joseph W. Gill, 88, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at Bethlehem Commons Nursing Home after a long illness. Born in Ogden, Arkansas on August 13, 1924, he was son of the late Lorenzo and Elma Wood Gill. Joe played football in high school, and went to CC Camp as a teenager. Joe was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a gunner on destroyers. He participated in the Allied invasion in its entirety. Joe was a graduate of Farmingdale Ag & Tech School. He worked as construction manager for Timber Structures, and as general foreman for Carpenters Local 370 at the Empire State Plaza and SUNY Albany. Following retirement from Owens-Corning, he volunteered at the Greenville Food Pantry. Joe was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church and a member of Greenville American Legion Post 291. He loved gardening, reading, beekeeping, and everything in nature. “Papa Joe” enjoyed talking to his children and grandchildren all about the natural world. Joe, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, is survived by his children, Glenn Gill, Geraldine (John) Morel, Joseph P. Gill, Peter L. (Noreen) Gill and Paul E. Gill; grandchildren, Amanda, Ariel, Christopher, Jonathan, Joshua, Justin, Leon, Rachel; great-grandchildren, Aria and Cyrus; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Mary G. Argento Gill on Dec. 17, 2010; and siblings, Glenn Gill, Anna Mae Pickett and Hazel Gordon. A calling hour will be Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 Route 81, Greenville. Funeral Mass will be offered Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, followed by burial with military honors in Greenville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Greenville Food Pantry, P.O. Box 631, Greenville, NY 12083 will be appreciated. Light a candle at ajcunninghamfh.com.