Joe B Greer

Joe Bell Greer, AC, DD, LC, HP, SST, TF born August 9, 1932 in Danville, KY, passed away August 3, 2024 in Louisville, KY at the age of 91 from a broken heart – he lost his beloved wife, Alice, in 2016 and yearned to be with her every day since her death. He was born in his grandparent’s living room and claims to remember his birth. He graduated from Danville High School, where he played football, in 1950. Two weeks later he married Alice, “the prettiest girl in school”. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, where he served as a Corporal at the port in Yokahama, Japan during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a Disabled American Veteran with a K-Award in 1954 and almost went awol because he couldn’t get home to Alice fast enough. He started work as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service in 1954 and became known as “The Mailman” in all of South Danville. He loved his patrons and always went the extra mile to serve them. He retired in 1992 after putting 2 snot nosed kids through college. Over the years he painted many houses and farmed to support his family. Joe loved being a father to Mark and Julie, teaching them many life lessons and setting an example for hard work, integrity, and loyalty. He was an avid band booster to the Danville High School Marching Admirals. Joe and Alice were members of the Danville Church of the Nazarene from 1950-1974. They joined Lexington Avenue Baptist Church in 1974, where Joe served as a deacon and Sunday School director for many years. He and Alice enjoyed lots of fun times and travels with the members of their Sunday School class, the MAS (Middle Aged Spreads). LABC continued to pick him up in Louisville when they made an annual trip to Derby Dinner Playhouse so he could catch up with all his friends. Joe was an avid reader of history, particularly of the Civil War and WWII, and knows every historical fact about Danville. He schools all non-Danville friends on the City of Firsts with great pride. He and Alice moved to Lexington in 2003 to be closer to their daughter, Julie and son-in-law Tim. He got his favorite job in life in 2005 when he earned the title of Papa. If you have spoken to Joe since that time, you have heard all about his “little grandson” Peyton who towered over his Papa in later years. Some of their favorite activities were playing Set-Go, going to the mall for Papa to show off his grandson, eating ice cream, and breakfast dates at Waffle House. Lexington also brought an amazing friendship with James and Diane, whom they ate dinner with nearly every night, because when Alice retired, she also retired from cooking. In 2010 Joe and Alice followed Julie, Tim and Peyton to Louisville where their son, Mark, also lives. He became The Chairman of the Mall St. Matthews Food Court where he spent every morning “walking” aka talking to his pals. This group of friends has brought great comfort and joy to him, especially after Alice’s death.  In addition to his beloved Alice, Joe is preceded in death by his father, Flavious Josephus Greer, Jr. (Helen), mother, Hazel Milburn Hiter (Otis), and brother, James Mead Greer.

Joe is survived by his son, Mark Greer; daughter, Julie Greer Anderson (Tim); grandson, Peyton Anderson; sister, Mary Jane Greer Hubbard (Doug); niece, Heather Hubbard Robinson (Russ); nephew, Jim Hubbard (Hayley); nephew, Walter Lay (Katie) ; niece, Kathy Lay (Peg) and nieces, Cindy Reed, Jodie Greer, and Amanda Farmer. He is also survived by many great-nephews and nieces and beloved cousins; and a host of friends. 

Visitation will be Monday, August 12, 2024 from 4pm to 6pm at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive Louisville, Kentucky 40243.  A celebration of Joe's life will follow at 6pm at the funeral home. 

Interment will take place at 1:30pm on Friday, August 16, 2024 at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, 2501 N Dixie Blvd, Radcliff, KY 40160 with military honors.

Memorial donations are suggested to Hosparus Health, https://hosparushealth.org/donate/ as they took such great care of Joe and his family in his journey to be reunited with Alice, or Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, 339 W Lexington Ave, Danville, KY 40422. 

To view the services, please copy and paste the following link into your web browser, available at 5:50 pm: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcyMzUxMTE2MDMyMzMwNCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

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