Dr. Joseph Leason Colbourn

Dr. Colbourn is predeceased by his wife Martha Howell Colbourn, who passed away on April 24, 2015 after 63 years of marriage and a grandchild Christine Murray.

Joe/Dad is survived by his six children and spouses, Joseph L. Colbourn Jr. (Juanita T), Margaret Mary Moranville (Mark), Jeanne DeChantal Bosse, Charles Edward Colbourn, (Joanne), Kathleen Madeline Kelly (Montgomery) and Patricia Marie Gagnon (John). He is also remembered by his fifteen grandchildren, Dr. Stephanie Colbourn, Lauren Colbourn Schlemmer, Jennifer Bialek, Dr. John Murray, Jeffery Bosse, Patrick Bosse, Katie Johnson, Patricia Stubbs, Dr. Colin Colbourn, Bryan Colbourn, Hannah Colbourn, Emily Toledo, Elizabeth Brettin, Captain Isabella Meaux, US Army, and Jack Gagnon. He is also remembered by 16 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Joe Colbourn was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the oldest son of Hobson and Margaret Frazier Colbourn on October 29 1929 at the dawn of the Great Depression. He grew up in South Baltimore as the oldest of 3 brothers, Edward Wheeler Colbourn and James Ronald Colbourn. Joe graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School in 1947 then attended Loyola College graduating in 1951. He worked part time at St. Agnes Hospital in the pharmacy where he met his wife Martha Howell also a nurse at St. Agnes Hospital. Joe served proudly during the Korean war in the US Army. Joe worked at the Edgewood Arsenal at the start of his career then applied and was admitted to the graduate biochemistry PhD program at the University of Maryland. Joe received a PhD in 1964 for research in RNA biochemistry. After his graduate work at Maryland, he worked at The Johns Hopkins University in a post-doctoral position as a research biologist until 1971. Following this he worked for Miles Laboratories in the Research Products Division in Elkhart, Indiana from 1971-1985. Joe and Martha returned to Maryland where he worked on various army contracts at Ft. Detrick, Maryland for the remaining of his career until his retirement.

Joe was an avid photographer, stamp collector and environmentalist. He served as past presidents of the Indiana Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Mountain Club of Maryland. Joseph and his wife Martha, traveled all over the world in their retirement years visiting England, Australia, Egypt, Israel, Hawaii, Alaska, and much of Europe. He was a philanthropist for many Catholic charities.

Visitations will be held at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, Inc. 7250 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge, Maryland (Exit 6 South off Route 100) on Thursday, February 18, 2021 from 3:00-5:00PM and 7:00-9:00PM. A mass of Christian burial will be held at the St. Joseph’s Monastery Church, 3801 Old Frederick Rd, Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, February 19, 2021 at 11:00 AM, with internment at New Cathedral cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Catholic Charities USA organization.