Joseph D. Sullivan

Joseph D. Sullivan

Melbourne

Joseph Dalmon Sullivan went to be with the Lord on June 20, 2015, at the age of 90 after battling a variety of terminally diagnosed illnesses throughout his life.  Mr. Sullivan was born on November 29, 1924, in Johnston County, North Carolina, to Joseph Herman Sullivan and Pearl Avery Sullivan. He was the middle child of six boys.

Like all the brothers, he spent most of his time working in the fields on his family's farm during the Great Depression. One of his greatest memories was going to church every Sunday with his family.  After church he enjoyed the family dinners and playing with his cousins.  He and his brothers loved climbing trees, going fishing, and playing baseball. In the winter of 1940, at age 16, on a frozen over pond, Joe was injured trying to show the boys he could ride a bull.  The accident, tragically, severely injured his hip.  The injury led to osteomyelitis, which caused the family to take him to Duke University Hospital. The Duke football team, hosting the 1942 Rose Bowl Game in Durham N.C., befriended Joe, donated 43 blood transfusions, and took him down on a stretcher to watch the game.  Joe was then sent to the Crippled Children's Hospital in Gastonia, N.C where he met his future wife-to-be Violet Rose Young. 

Despite being on crutches, Joe worked in the Civil Service loading supplies at Military Seaports through to the conclusion of World War II.  To start his dream of becoming a watchmaker, he then enrolled and graduated from North Carolina's Spencer School of Watch Making.

In 1947, he married Violet.  In 1948, he opened his first business, a watch repair shop in Selma N.C., on the same day as the birth of their first son Joey.  They were blessed with two more sons, Doug and Mike. A second store was opened before Joe and Vi decided to sell the business and move to Florida. He opened a jewelry store on Highland Avenue in downtown Eau Gallie in 1955 and had their fourth child, Angie, in 1957.    

All of this time, Joe and his wife Vi, were both suffering from crippling handicaps that never held them back from their business and family success.  They were thankful to God for the many miracles of healing in their lives.  In Melbourne, Joe opened a jewelry store at J.M. Field's Plaza and later on at Sarno Plaza, eventually consolidating both to 209 N. Babcock St., the current location.    

Joe had a reputation for quality and integrity and was known for his love of pocket watches, and collecting coins.  He was respected in the community for his hard work, being honest and treating customers right.  All of his children worked at Sullivan's S&S Jewelers during their teenage and young adult years alongside their parents.  Joey became a Master Hand Engraver.  Doug and Mike went on to graduate from Jewelry School and started a second generation of jewelers.  Angie, an Interior Designer, helped her dad design and lay out the store.  Grandchildren are now the third generation in the business.  Up until his last hospitalization, Joe continued to come to the store to see the customers and employees.  His almost seven decade-long journey to reach business success while suffering physical, financial, and personal setbacks, including the loss of his oldest two sons and his wife, was indeed a testament to his determination and faith. In his leisure time Joe enjoyed watching sports, gardening, fishing, and spending time with the family and his dog, Buddy.

Mr. Sullivan is survived by two of his brothers: Tom and Bobby Sullivan.  Two of his four children and their spouses and children:  Mike and Pam Sullivan and their children: Michael Sullivan, Jr. and Amy Tompkins and her husband Reed.  Angie and Dan Evans and their children: Ashley Hilton and her husband Stephen, Brittany Evans, and Chelsea Evans.  Joey's children: Richard Sullivan, Summer Tipton, Josh Sullivan and his wife Debra, and Holland Street.  Doug's wife Isabel and their children: Staci Walden and her husband Jason, Doug Sullivan, Jr. and his wife Krystle.  Great Grandchildren: Alana Walters, Athena Sullivan, Caitlin, Sienna,and Royce Walden, Christian Hilton and Ella Tompkins.

He is predeceased by both his parents, wife Violet, his brothers Charles, Marvin, and Jimmy, and his sons: Joey and Doug.  A long journey of faith and endurance has concluded for Joe, but the memories will always be present.

A memorial service will be held at Calvary Chapel Melbourne on Friday, June 26th at 1:00 pm.  Mr. Sullivan will be interred in the Sullivan family plot at Florida Memorial Park Gardens.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children in memory of Joseph and Violet Sullivan. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Seawinds Funeral Home.  Any one wishing to send the family condolences or share a story is asked to visit Mr. Sullivan's tribute page at www.davissea winds.com.