Obituary - Joseph Martin Finch
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Joseph Martin Finch of Shelbyville, Tennessee passed away Tuesday April 3, 2018, surrounded by his family. Joe is survived by his wife Gail, his three daughters, Kim Withrow, Suzie Finch and Lisa McMahan, his three grandchildren, Joseph, Brooks and Max Withrow and his brother Bill Finch. In lieu of a funeral service, a Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends at the Blue-Ribbon Circle Club on the Celebration Show Grounds April 22nd from 1-4pm. All friends and family are invited.
Joe lived a full life. He was born in Frederickstown, Ohio during the depression and become a brick mason working with his father as a young adult. In June 1945 he enlisted in the Navy at 17 years of age and served on a munitions ship in the South Pacific. After his military service, he graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Business Administration. While at Ohio State, he served as president of his fraternity Sigma Pi. He remained a lifelong Buckeye fan.
Upon graduation from college, he went to work for Alcoa in Garwood, New Jersey. On a blind date, he met the love of his life, Gail Kimble Carson, and they married in May 1955. He worked for Alcoa for 37 years, starting in the Purchasing Group and moving into Real Estate Development. Joe was President of Alcoa Properties when he retired. During his years with Alcoa, Joe and Gail moved over 20 times, including stops in Suriname South America, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Hollywood Florida, San Francisco California, finally retiring in Mobile, Alabama. Joe and Gail met many wonderful friends in all the places they lived and continued those friendships throughout their lives.
Joe’s hobbies were playing golf and Standardbred race horses. Joe was a member of the Mobile Country Club for 30 years and played several days a week until age 85. He also owned and raced Standardbred horses in his younger days on the Ohio and Pennsylvania Fair Circuit. In recent years, Joe enjoyed watching the Tennessee Walking horse shows in the area.
One of the greatest joys of his life was being Pop Pop to his 3 grandchildren. He loved watching them play sports and was always at their games to cheer them on.
Joe’s relaxed demeanor and keen sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.
More Stories |
-
Elizabeth Beckman Jobe, age 105, of Lewisburg, Tennessee, died Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, at her home in Village Manor.
Read More
-
The International Board of Directors for the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association met on Saturday, December 2, 2023, and elected their Executive Committee for the coming year. The slate that was presented by the Nominating Committee was elected without opposition.
Read More
-
Dean Thomas, age 59, of Wartrace, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2023, at his home, under the loving care and comfort of his family and Hospice Compassus.
Read More
-
The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association held their annual general membership meeting on December 1, 2023 at the headquarters of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association. The change in venue is due to the change in the Horse of the Year banquet from this traditional weekend in December to February.
Read More
-
Read More
-
Kathy Gilliam-Cole has been elected as the director for the State of Washington for a two-year term to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Linda Arnold. The election was sent to a runoff following an initial tie between Gilliam-Cole and Jo Cheek.
Read More
-
Our WHTA By-Laws state that our Association must have an Annual Meeting each year in December. (As you know, our Annual Awards Banquet will be February 2 & 3, 2024 at the Marriott in Franklin, TN.) This year, TWHBEA has invited us to join them for a joint meeting since they will be providing us Zoom capabilities. Please plan to attend in person or by Zoom.
Read More
-
On a beautiful warm day in the fall, her favorite time of the year, Rita Ann Ellis Wells of Bostic, NC left her earthly home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She passed on Thursday, November 9, 2023 after an extended illness with dementia.
Read More
-
As we finish another show season, the Walking Horse industry is in the midst of another rulemaking attempt by the United States Department of Agriculture. The rulemaking process and the finality of that process will play a huge role in the future of the breed.
Read More
-
William "Bill" Thomas Brady, 85, of Byhalia, MS, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023. Friends are invited to a visitation with the family on Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home of Olive Branch, MS. The funeral service will be held the following day on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., also at Coleman Funeral Home of Olive Branch.
Read More
|