Joseph William Harper

The son of George W. Harper of Virginia and Eleanor Ann Harper of Ohio, Mr. Harper was born on April 1, 1944 in Washington D.C., and graduated from DuVal High School in Lanham in 1962. After high school he served in the United States Army and was stationed in South Korea where he specialized in Communications. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1967, he worked as a communications installer for the C&P Telephone Company till 1984. From 1984 until his retirement in 1999 he worked as a Services Manager for AT&T Communications, working on the communications system installation at the White House in 1988 and earning a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from the George Washington University along the way.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, boating, watching the Washington Redskins, cheering the Baltimore Orioles, playing softball, and bowling.

He married the love of his life. Ms. Barbara Ann Smith on February 5, 1972 and have now been reunited.

He is survived by one son, Michael W. Harper and his wife Megan of Elk Grove, California; one daughter, Kelly A. Weaver and her husband Scott of Pasadena; two brothers, Arthur Harper and his wife Sandy of North Carolina and Martin Harper and his wife Terry of Shady Side; one sister, Linda Gott of Calvert County; four Granddaughters, Taylor, Natalie, Brianna, and Savannah; and three grandsons, Connor Harper, Logan Weaver, and Connor Weaver.

Visitations will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m, Thursday July 22, 2021 at Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

Memorial Contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.