Joseph Berry Yawn

1924 - 2017

Joseph Berry (Joe) Yawn

Cocoa Beach

After a brief illness, Joseph Berry (Joe) Yawn of Cocoa Beach passed away on October 18, 2017, at the age of 93. Joe was a native Floridian, born in Graceville, Florida on July 17, 1924 to Rosa and Berry Yawn. The youngest of six children, Joe graduated from Graceville High School and at age 19 joined and served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Joe was a flight engineer on B-24 Liberator aircraft, flying 13 combat missions out of the Brindisi area of southern Italy.

After WWII, under the GI Bill, Joe graduated from Florida State University with a degree in education. Joe taught school for a period of time, but eventually followed his father and brother Cecil into a career with the U.S. Postal Service.

For most of his life Joe was an avid golfer, playing golf three or more times per week at the Suntree Club in Melbourne or at the High Meadows Club near Roaring Gap, NC where he had a vacation home.

One of the significant events in recent years was Joe's participation in an "Honor Flight" to Washington, D.C in April 2015. Sponsored by the Space Coast Honor Flight, this program flies Veterans to Washington to see the monuments and to be honored for their service. Accompanied by his grandson, Nicolas Sheppard, it was a long day, but Joe was thrilled by the recognition and the trip.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother and father, Rosa and Berry Yawn, and by his five siblings, Donald, Cecil and Bruce Yawn, Rosaleen Yawn Williams and Mary Nell Yawn Redd. Joe was also preceded in death by his second wife, Joanne Haywood Yawn, in 2001. Joe's first marriage to Beth Collins ended in divorce. Survivors include his daughter, Lynn Sheppard, grandson, Nicolas Sheppard, eight loving nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2017, at 12:00 noon at VFW Post 10148, 150 Minutemen Causeway, Cocoa Beach, Florida