Joseph J. DiOrio

Joseph J. DiOrio, 84, of Upper Deerfield Township passed away on Tuesday evening, Feb. 5, 2013, at the South Jersey Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Vineland.

The husband of the late Darlene F. "Dee Nee" DiOrio (Meyer), who died in 2009, they had been married for 61 years. He was born in Philadelphia and was the son of the late Joseph and Jennie (Casarow) DiOrio. His family moved to Cumberland County during his youth and graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1946. Known far and wide as "Airplane Joe," Mr. DiOrio began his lifelong love of flying at the age of 16. A crop duster for more than 35 years, he was the owner of Buck's Airport in Upper Deerfield Township and well known throughout southern New Jersey to most local farmers. During his career, he flew and maintained several aircraft, including a J3Cub and several Steerman.

He is survived by two children, Shaye DiOrio of Woodbridge, Va., and Joseph Lance DiOrio and his wife Sherry of Vineland; and two sisters, Jennie Miller of Michigan, and Carman DiOrio and her husband Harry of Wilmington, Del. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cindee DiOrio Weiss, in 1982; and a grandson, Jay Weiss, in 2003.

Friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Monday morning, February 11th at 11 o'clock at the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce Street in Bridgeton. The entombment will take place in the family crypt at Overlook Cemetery in Bridgeton. Friends will be received at the funeral home Monday morning from 10 to 11.

Written condolences and tributes may be offered to the family via the funeral home website, freitagfuneralhome.com.