Walter Raymond Joba

Walter Raymond Joba, 82, of Jacksonville passed away December 23, 2024 with his loving family by his side. He was born June 24,1942 in Passaic, New Jersey, the son of Walter and Mildred Raymond Joba.

When he was five his parents moved to a dairy farm in Saratoga County, New York. As a boy he milked cows, mucked out stalls, baled hay, grew vegetables and learned to drive young. He was an active 4H club member showing cows, participating in tractor driving contests and giving demonstrations. Graduating in 1960, he attended Stillwater Schools where he was a member of the Varsity Club and played football, basketball, and track. Summers he worked as a short order cook at a local beach. On August 29,1964 he married his high school sweetheart, the former Mary-Elizabeth Hansen (Emmy) in Stillwater, New York.

After graduating from Ohio University he began work as an Industrial Engineer for the Owens Corning Fiberglas plant in Newark, Ohio. He was first transferred to Toledo and then to Tukwila, Washington where they developed the insulation system for the Alaskan Pipeline. He spent a year as Purchasing Manager of the Ashton, Rhode Island plant before being named manager of the Brookville, Indiana facility. While in Brookville he served as president of both the local Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. The family moved to Jacksonville in 1985 when Walt became Plant Manager of the Jacksonville Roofing and Asphalt Plant. He was an active member and past president of the Northside Rotary Club and one of the Tri Chairmen of the First Coast Manufacturing Association. He retired from Owens Corning in 2001.

He moved to Fleming Island in 2002 where he was elected and served as a commissioner of the Eagle Harbor Association, was instrumental in starting the neighborhood community watch program, volunteered as a Master Gardener at Bannerman Learning Center in Green Cove Springs and worked the polls for numerous elections. He enjoyed bridge and senior tennis with the “One Steppers.” He especially liked spending time with his daughters and grandchildren and could frequently be found in the stands cheering them on at their sporting events and activities.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two daughters, Nancy Tabor (Michael) of Tampa and Amy Osterman (Brian) of Jacksonville, three grandchildren Madeline and Abigail Osterman and Justin Tabor, one sister, Patricia Davis of Doylestown, Pennsylvania and his devoted caregiver Heather Boxill.

The family will have a visitation at Greenlawn Chapel, 4300 Beach Blvd. on January 11, 2025, starting at 10:00 am followed by a Celebration of Life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Walt's honor to Jax Hope Inc. or Parkinson Research Foundation.