Stephen Joseph

NEW BERN | Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather, Stephen Joseph, age 93, of Fayetteville, NC, passed away peacefully at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, NC on May 7th, 2015. He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on November 28, 1921.
As a young man he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and worked in Montana and other western states. At the onset of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. After participating in the D-Day invasion, his unit traveled to southern Germany where he met his future wife, Helen. After rotating back to the U.S., he was instrumental in forming the Special Forces unit Green Berets, where he served as Command Sergeant Major in the 1st, 5th, 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups. He served 3 tours in Vietnam and numerous countries. He retired to Fayetteville, NC after 30 years of military service and worked with the U.S. Postal Service for an additional 15 years as a mail carrier at Ft. Bragg, NC.
He enjoyed playing golf and working outdoors in his numerous gardens and landscaping projects. Both him and his wife were active members of the Fort Bragg chapters of the Retired Military Association (RMA) and Special Forces Association. He was an intelligent man who spoke 7 different foreign languages and an avid reader, including reading the Bible several times. He was well liked and respected by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years by 3 weeks. He is survived by his daughters and their spouses, Peggy and Craig Hampton, Linda Morrissey and Philip Rhodes, both of Hope Mills, NC and sons, Thomas and Karen Joseph of New Bern, NC and Robert and Susan Joseph of Longwood, Fl. He also had 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Visitation is 12 pm with Reeves Funeral Home in Hope Mills, NC followed by burial service at Sandhills military Cemetery, Spring Lake, NC at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be sent to the Special Forces Association, 4212 Callery Knoll Ct., Fayetteville, NC 28306.