Joseph A. Palumbo

PHOENIX - Joseph A. Palumbo, 86, of Phoenix, Ariz., died June 8, 2013, in Phoneix.

Born in Orange, Mr. Palumbo lived in Venice, Fla., Stroudsburg, Pa., Boonton and Colonia. He also was a resident of Bristol Glen in Newton and lived at Heath Village in Hackettstown before moving to Arizona. A World War II Army Air Force veteran, Mr. Palumbo was a recipient of the Army of Occupation Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He was a computer programmer/analyst for Celanese Research Company in Summit for 30 years before his retirement.

The son of the late Gaetano and Rose (Russ) Palumbo, Mr. Palumbo also was predeceased by his wife, Rosemary (Dezaio) Palumbo, on March 4, 2007.

He is survived by three children, Carolyn Kalinich and her husband, Joseph, of Sparta, Thom Palumbo, of Wilton Manors, Fla., and Marie Rice and her husband, Robert, of Phoenix, Ariz. He also is survived by two grandchildren, Sean and Caitlin Callahan, both of Sparta.

Services and interment are private and are under the direction of Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.