Berry, Joe Henry Sr.

Obituary:  Joe H. Berry Sr. - Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove, OK

APRIL 9, 1926 ~ MARCH 19, 2016 (AGE 89)

Joe H. Berry passed away at Higher Call Nursing Center on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at the age of eighty-nine. He was born on April 9, 1926, in Grove, Oklahoma, to Arnold Berry and Alma Wilmoth (Walker) Berry. Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife of forty years, Sandy Berry; a daughter, Shirlene Collins; a son, Joe H. Berry Jr.; three brothers, Bob, Jim, and Jeff; and one sister, Mary Jane Reed. He is survived by his wife of nine years, Oneeta (Manning) Berry; three sons, Jeff Berry (Connie), Max Berry, and Dan Craig (Paula); one daughter, Kristen Smith (Don); eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; three stepsons, Gary Manning (Diane), Galen Manning (Barbie), and David Manning (De); and a host of other relatives and friends. Joe's father was a World War I veteran who served in France and Germany. Joe and his three brothers served in World War II. One brother, Jim was killed in an airplane crash while serving. Joe volunteered for service in the Marine Corps on April 17, 1944, at the age of eighteen. He fought in the Battle of Saipan and was in the first wave that landed on the beaches of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Before landing, he witnessed a kamikaze sinking of a nearby ship. The screams of those onboard haunted him until his later years when his memory started fading. After securing the island, Joe's company was ordered onto the Japanese mainland to fight, but the United States dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war. His orders were changed, and he did guard duty at the crater where the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Joe spent his working lifetime as a builder and estimator in California. He retired in 1992 and returned to Grove and Grand Lake, living near his brother Bob, his sister Mary Jane, and his nephew Donald Lybarger. He loved his church, First Baptist of Grove, and his favorite pastime was taking his pontoon boat out on the lake for a day of fishing with his friends. He also enjoyed his pets Winston, Boone, and Yuma. A celebration-of-life memorial service will be held at Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel in Grove, Oklahoma, on March 31, at 6:00 p.m. Chaplain Gerald Bailey will be presiding, assisted by members of Joe's family. 

Service Details:  Thursday, March 31st, 2016 6:00pm, Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home - Grove

Internment:  Olympus Cemetery