Joseph Voshell

Joseph Rees Voshell NORFOLK - Joseph Rees Voshell, 88, passed away Monday, Jan. 3, 2011 at the Showalter Center assisted living facility in Blacksburg, Va. He was born Jan. 4, 1922 in Philadelphia and grew up in Middletown, Del. In high school he was on the basketball and track and field teams, as well as being active in the Boy Scouts. Upon completing high school, he attended Tri-State College (now Tri-State University), but like many patriotic young men of his generation, he left college to serve in the military during World War II. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and was trained as a fighter pilot. He flew many combat missions from Jeep carriers in the Pacific campaign and was decorated for his accomplishments, including the downing of an enemy combatant in an aerial battle. After the war he married Carolyn M. Daniels in 1946 and worked in commercial aviation at the Manteo, N.C., airport where he flew single-engine aircraft to transport cargo and sportsmen along the Outer Banks, which often involved landing on the beaches. Upon the birth of his son, J. Reese Voshell Jr., in 1948 he moved his family to Norfolk, where he lived until 2010. He was employed in civil service in the field of aeronautical engineering at the Naval Air Reworks Facility until his retirement in 1981. He also remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a flight officer and was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict. He retired from the Naval Reserve at the rank of commander in 1973. He was an active member of Talbot Park Baptist Church for about 60 years. He loved the outdoors and was an ardent hunter and fisherman. He was especially fond of fishing for rockfish at the Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay bridges in the winter. He was very skilled at woodworking and over the course of his life he built seven boats by hand, the last of which was a 22-foot cabin cruiser. He also became a master waterfowl carver as a member of the Back Bay Waterfowl Guild and won many awards at various shows, including several awards at the Ward World Championships in Ocean City, Md., and the Mid-Atlantic Waterfowl Festival in Virginia Beach. For several years he shared his carving skills by teaching a class at the Norfolk Senior Center. He was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Adiline P. Voshell and two brothers, John W. Voshell Jr. and Frank P. Voshell. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carolyn D. Voshell of Blacksburg; a son and daughter-in-law, J. Reese Voshell Jr. and Trisha J. Voshell of Floyd, Va.; a granddaughter, Stephanie M. Voshell, of Blacksburg; and nine nieces and nephews. A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, in Talbot Park Baptist Church, 6919 Granby St., Norfolk, with Dr. Robert Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time at Talbot Park Baptist Church. Condolences may be offered at www.holloman-brown.com. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of the Showalter Center and Medi Home Health and Hospice for the exceptional care and kindness they provided during his final days. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Voshell's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, Southeastern Virginia Chapter, 6350 Center Drive, Suite 102, Norfolk, VA 23502, http://www.alz.org/seva/.