George William Joseph

George William Joseph IRMO George William Joseph, 54, of Irmo, SC, died Monday morning, June 12, 2017, from complications due to a short battle with cancer. George was born September 11, 1962, in Chicago, IL, and raised in Schiller Park, IL. He graduated from East Leyden High School, Franklin Park, IL, in 1980. He joined the U.S. Armed Forces at age 17 upon graduation where he was stationed at Fort Benning, GA, for basic training. From there he served three years in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks and was an anti-tank gunner. He then went to Fort Ord and Fort Hunter Liggett in CA where he was involved in the experimentation of different warfare tactics and vehicles. In 1984 he went into the Reserves and served at Fort Jackson as a weapons training instructor. He re-enlisted full time in 1986 and served at Fort Polk in Louisiana, where he was an anti-tank vehicle crewman, and then a section leader in charge of troops and vehicles in a combat unit. He was honorably discharged in 1992. He said numerous times that joining the military was one of the best decisions he ever made. After his military days he had the opportunity to learn the Telecommunications Industry working with his father at TelCom, Inc. Most recently he was employed by Network Infrastructure Cabling Inc. where he installed, repaired, relocated communications cabling at Lexington Medical Center for almost four years, the same hospital where he received his treatments. It was a blessing that he was cared for at this hospital where he knew so many of the people caring for him. George found solace when fishing at Lake Murray and working in his yard. He was also quite the master griller, and his cooking will be missed. George had such a bright spirit it was infectious to those around him, always to crack a joke when needed, even in his final days. His positive attitude spilled over to others; one couldn't help but be upbeat around George Joseph. He had an inner joy that overflowed! He was a member of Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church where he served on the Evangelism and Offering Committees. He also served as an usher and a greeter. He had a strong faith in the Lord, which never failed him. He is survived by his wife, Camille Lassiter Joseph; stepdaughter, Taylor Ann Fiber; father, Francis August Joseph of Leesville, SC; brother, Michael August Joseph (Carrie) of Summerville, SC; sister, Mary Katherine Bozard (Jim) of Lexington, SC; brother, Donald Ray Ellinger of Chicago, IL, and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was predeceased by his mother, Vivian Joyce Green Joseph, and sister, Heidi Joyce Ellinger. Services will be held Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church, Chapin, SC. Pastor Ralph Hill will officiate. Burial will follow at Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 14, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Chapin, SC. Contributions in memory of George William Joseph may be made to Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church, PO Box 8, Chapin, SC 29036 or American Cancer Society at 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net