Joseph Wells Bach

Joseph Wells Bach, residing at Croatan Village, New Bern, NC passed away on August 21, 2023. Mr. Bach was born January 26, 1924 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of Joseph Frank and Mary Marguerite Bach of Upper Darby, PA.

Mr. Bach graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Commerce in 1950 and attended Dickinson Law School in Carlisle, PA.

Mr. Bach served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, 7 years on active duty and 19 years in the reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was stationed in the Pacific during World War II and in Germany during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Bach’s professional life was in sales and sales management in Albany, NY area and yacht chartering in NY and NC. His local community activities included Rotary International, Board Member of the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association, Development of Craven Creekside Recreational Park, North Carolina Community Foundation, Down East Council of Hispanic/Latino Association and “Flying Bears of New Bern”. He received the Pioneer of the Game award from the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame Association in 2011.

He is preceded in death by his wife Mary Helen zum Brunnen Bach and is survived by his wife Gail Buckley Bach; daughters Peggy (Edward) Weir, Laura (James) Noble, Linda Bach and Barbara Bach (Jerry Dockery); grandchildren Justin Hipp (Peggy Weir), Alison and Ryan Noble (Laura Noble), and Eric Bach-Crosby (Linda Bach); and great-granddaughter Selene Hargis (Alison Noble).

A Celebration of Life service will be 11:00 am Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at Garber Methodist Church, 4201 Country Club Road, New Bern, NC 28562. Please feel free to dress to express celebration.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New Bern Rotary Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 818, New Bern, NC 28563.

Online condolences can be made by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com.

Cotton Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Joseph Bach.