Joseph was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Esther Snook and his beloved wife Ruth M. Snook. Referred to as Max by close family relatives, he voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 7, 1941, shortly after graduating from the Balboa High School in the Panama Canal Zone that same year. During World War II he served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic First Class stationed at NAS COCO SOLO. After the war he returned to his home state of Pennsylvania and went on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Metallurgy at the Pennsylvania State College. After college he went to work as a metallurgist for the Crucible Steel Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His last working years were spent proudly serving as the head metallurgist for the Indian Head Naval Ordnance Station in Maryland a job he loved. Retiring to Virginia Beach Virginia he proudly served as a Master Mason with the Kempsville Masonic Lodge #196 for over 50 years. The last four years of his life were spent living with family members on the Eastern Shore of Virginia when not relaxing at his home at 212 Parkway Court in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is a member of the Johnson's United Methodist Church congregation in Machipongo, VA.
Survivors include his sons Richard E. Snook and his wife Janet E. Snook, William R. Snook and his wife Cindy Goshow-Snook, six grandchildren Scott Snook and his wife Jessica Snook, Jonathan Snook and his wife Amber Snook, Amy Young and her husband Michael Young, Rhiannon Bouchard and her husband Ryan Bouchard, Eilis Goshow-Snook and Niamh Snook; five great grandchildren Lily Snook, Samuel Snook, Emma Snook, Cayman Young and Violet Young.
Joseph's hobbies included building and flying model airplanes, carving numerous decoys and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren who affectionally referred to him as GPAP.
A Celebration of life for Joseph will be held Friday, August 9, 2024, 2:00 PM at Johnson's United Methodist Church, 1175 Bayside Road, Machipongo, VA.
A graveside service will occur Monday, August 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Johnson's United Methodist Church 1175 Bayside Road, Machipongo, VA 23405 for the renovation of the Homeschool Classrooms.
Friends may offer condolences at www.kellumfuneralhome.com
