Joseph Baxter Oakes Jr.

He was born in Baumholder Germany and grew up in Elizabethtown. He was known to his friends as "Joe Bear" and was a veteran of the United States Army.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Baxter Oakes Sr. and Anita Oakes-Coffman; and a sister, Martha "Marty" Linda Bullock.

He is survived by his sister, Betty Jo (John) Dahlhauser of Glendale; a brother, Thomas Oakes of Elizabethtown; four nieces and nephews, Trent (Sara) Bullock, Corie (David) Millis, Cassie Kurtz and Chessie (Alex) Thalacker; and six great-nieces and nephews, Carsten and Jacob Kurtz, Breanna and Jake Bullock, Reagan Spruill, and Alicia De La Fuente.

A celebration of his life will be Thursday at 12 noon at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. Burial will follow in Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and continue from 10 to 12 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.brownfuneral.com.