Joseph Berkley Keesee

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph Berkley Keesee (Pa Joe), who departed this life on June 19, 2026, at the age of 86 at his home. Pa Joe was born on Nov 5, 1939 in Bedford, VA to William Nicholas and Elsea Mae Keesee.

During his junior and senior years at Troutville High School, he was in the Navy Reserves. After graduation, he went active duty navy for 2 years. Pa Joe decided to go to college at Ferrum for 2 years then ended up graduating from VA Tech in Animal Science (1965).

While at VA Tech, he met the love of his life, Phyllis Richardson. They got married on June 6, 1964. They settled down in Culpeper, Va. where he was a county supervisor, Farmers Home Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture. In this capacity, he was responsible for making long and short term loans, rural housing and water and sewage loans. He then became a Culpeper Extension Agent, farm management in the extension division of Virginia Polytechnical Institute. Pa Joe became interested in banking and accepted a job at Culpeper National Bank as an assistant vice president. He stayed with the bank through many mergers. He left as a vice president. They moved to Roanoke VA and for the next 13 years, he was at The Bank of Shawsville, Premier Bank in Wytheville VA, and Central Virginia Bank in Powhatan, VA. A couple of years later, he decided to retire and move back to Culpeper and worked at the Culpeper Farmers Coop.

Pa Joe was involved in many civic clubs and organizations; Lions Club, Culpeper Jaycees, president of Culpeper Agriculture Enterprises, guest speaker at various events, MC at the Culpeper follies, and a volunteer as a field marker at Eastern View High School.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years Phyllis R. Keesee (Phee), his daughter Debra K. Wayland (David), his grandson Joseph Alan Wayland (Brittney), his granddaughter Amy Schoderbek (Peter), his great granddaughters Hayden and Harper Wayland, and brother David Keesee (Judy) from High Point, NC.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his son Joseph B. Keesee Jr. (Joey), his sister Betty Mae Scaggs, brother-in-law Harvey Scaggs, brother William Ivano Keesee (Betty Jane), and his brother-in-law Kenneth Scott Smith Sr. (Nancy).

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday June 28, 2026 at Clore English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Hwy, Culpeper. A funeral Service will take place at Culpeper United Methodist Church, 1233 Oaklawn Dr Culpeper, VA at 11:00 a.m., on Monday June 29, 2026, interment will follow the funeral at Fairview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph B. Keesee’s memory may be made to the Culpeper United Methodist Church or the Culpeper Rescue Squad.