Joseph Edward Moravec

Born in Astoria, New York, August 22, 1927

He joined the US Navy, December 1944, serving five years as a gunner’s mate.

He was assigned to Great Lake Naval Station Gunnery School and then transferred to Washington DC, advanced gunnery school to repair electro hydraulics for large weapons.

On V-J day, Mr. Moravec was transferred to ships and went to sea. He served on the USS Hercules, a minesweeper in Charleston (YMS 442), and later the Plover. He was shipped to Panama in 1947 on the USS Kittywake, then to USS Orion for submarine repair. He served a year and a half in Panama. Mr. Moravec was honorably discharged in late 1949.

In 1954, Mr. Moravec and his brother Richard came to Florida from Central Islep in a 26 foot Morgan Sea Skiff inboard. The 49 day trip traveled mostly by intercoastal waterways, also went through Lake Okeechobee locks.

Mr. Moravec retired from McGill Plumbing in Largo in 1992 as a Plumbing Superintendent and Estimator. Then he worked in development for L&S Bait Co., in Largo (MirrOlure) for ten year.

Survivors include: wife, Shirley Coachman Moravec, Clearwater; a brother Richard A. Moravec, Williston; a son, Greg Moravec, Old Town; a daughter, Patti Jo Clements, Brooksville; stepson, Thomas Miller, Richmond, VA; Two stepdaughters, Linda Miller, Bonita Springs, and Wendy Sanders, Belleair. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Moravec was a member of the Casado Club of Clearwater, Friends of Clearwater Library, Old Salts Fishing Club and Episcopal Church of the Ascension.

Services will be held on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 1:00 pm at Episcopal Church of the Ascension. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Suncoast Hospice Foundation.

Arrangements under the direction of Moss Feaster Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Clearwater, FL.