Joseph Rambis Sr.

Joseph Rambis Sr., 92, a lifetime resident of Sullivan County-Shelburn, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2009, at 8:30 p.m., at Sunrise View Convalescent Center, in Everett, Wash., with his two daughters, Gloria Nuner and Melody Henriksen and son-in-law Richard Henriksen at his side.Joe was the son of Andrew and Agnes Wilk Rambis, with 11 brothers and sisters that grew up in Sullivan County's "Jackson Hill." He graduated from Sullivan High School in 1935. Joe married Vivian E. Hayes on Aug. 8, 1941. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in Germany and the Philippines. After returning home from the war, he was employed at Quaker Maid in Terre Haute, until his retirement in 1979. Joe was an avid fisherman with many hours holding a fishing pole in hand and telling stories of the "big one." He was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Vivian Hayes Rambis, (Feb. 17, 1981); his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, the Rev. Chancey Basis Hayes and Anna Mable (Southwood Lawhorn) Hayes (1983); his granddaughter, Melissa Ann Rambis (Jan. 2, 1974); daughter-in-law, Margie Rambis (Dec. 27, 2006); sister, Annie Holsman (1974) and her husband Joe; and brothers, Tone (1986) and wife Cleoma, Frank (1997) and his wife Elizabeth (Lizzy), John (2001) and his wife Maxine, Andrew Rambis Jr. (2006), and Bill Rambis (2007); and two brothers-in-law, Edward Hayes (1985), and Ralph McBride Jr. (2006).He is survived by his three children, Gloria Lee (Darnell) Nuner of Santa Ana, Calif., Melody Rose (Richard) Henriksen of Bothell, Wash. and Sunrise, Ariz., and Joseph Rambis Jr. of North Chelmsford, Mass.; and seven grandchildren, Jamie Lynne Rogers of Everett, Jodi Beth Shoulders of Evansville, Jeri Anne (Steve) Hallmann of Evansville, Mindi Renee Powers of Santa Ana, Christopher Wade Henriksen of Everett, Sheri Dawn Henriksen of Edmonds, Wash., and Chad Rambis (Morreen); 14 great-grandchildren, Amanda Jane (Tim) Munro of Waynesville, Mo., Eric Chatham Jr. of Issaquah, Wash., Savannah Rogers of Everett, Jeffrey Brian Luttrull Jr., Chasse Michael Shoulders and Karli Beth Shoulders, all of Evansville, Billie James Deakins of Evansville, Cameron Lee Edward Deakins (Amanda) of Evansville, and Brianne Irene Deakins of Terre Haute, Jared Christopher Henriksen of Pinole, Calif., Jordan Thomas Henriksen and Gabriel Logan Summers of Edmonds, Kierra Brooke Henriksen of Fargo, N.D., Cullen Powers of Santa Ana; and three great-great-grandchildren, Rylan Jane and Lucas Munro of Waynesville, and Callie Nicole Deakins of Evansville. Also, surviving are his remaining brothers and sisters, Mary (Clifford) Owens of Auburn, Wash., Albert (Barbara) Rambis of Skokie, Ill., Stanley (Ursula) Rambis of Sparta, Wisc., Mike (Becky) Rambis of Cupertino, Calif., Sophia Bolinger of Terre Haute; and sisters-in-law, Alice Rambis of Muncie, Myrna Rambis of Anderson, and Madalyn McBride of Jasonville; and many loving and caring nieces and nephews.Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Little Flock Cemetery, in Shelburn, with Pastor Jerry Adams officiating. There will be a memorial/reception for family and friends to follow in the fellowship hall at Shelburn Church of God, 615 West Mill St. The Shelburn, Hymera, and Sullivan American Legion posts, and the Sullivan County Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct military rites. Arrangements were entrusted to Mattox-McHugh Funeral Home of Shelburn. In lieu of flowers, the family request that your memorials be given to the International Gideon Society, www.gideons.org/Expressions/MemorialBibleProgram.asp