Joseph "Joe" Philip Abdalla

Joseph “Joe” Philip Abdalla, beloved husband of 59 years of Beverly Kirby Abdalla, has died at the age of 81. Other than his wife of the home, he leaves behind his two children, Ruth Marie (Chris) Chapman and Kevin (Stephanie) Abdalla; grandchildren, Christine (Alex) Andrews, Patrick and Tucker Chapman and Ava Abdalla; two sisters, Alice Abdalla, Anita (Tom) Alessi, and two brothers, Alfred (Mary) Abdalla of Atlanta and Raymond Abdalla (Nancy Hines) along with many nieces and nephews. He was anxiously awaiting his first great granddaughter in January of 2023. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, SC.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3600 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205 at 11:30 on Friday, October 28, 2022 with a visitation/reception afterward at the church. Following the Mass will be a private family burial.

In his senior annual at Dreher High School in 1958, he was described as a “true friend to all who come his way”. Joe tried to live up to that attribute throughout his life.

He attended the University of SC but had to leave school when he was drafted into the Air National Guard, being sent to Spain during the Berlin Crisis. He was honorably discharged on his birthday, May 25, 1961. He later received his Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Wesleyan University in December 1995.

During his career as a senior field adjuster, Joe specialized in the handling of workers’ compensation claims, working for American Mutual Insurance Companies and Wausau Insurance Companies, from which he retired in 1998. He was an active member of the SC and Columbia Claims Associations, serving as President for two terms. In 1992, Joe was honored to be named SC Claims Adjuster of the Year. He also served as chairman of the Columbia Arbitration Committee. His attorney friends often remarked that he was “tighter than a hat band” when adjusting claims. His enthusiasm and knowledge of SC laws influenced both his children to enter the same profession, one of his proudest accomplishments.

A devout Catholic and prior to his golden years, Joe served as a Lector and Usher at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Lexington, SC. He was a lifelong avid bass fisherman and was an active member of the Lake Murray Seniors Bass Club. As a tribute to his lifelong love of fishing, he will take one final ride over the Lake Murray Dam to his final resting place.

Joe enjoyed woodworking and owned Custom Woodworking, LLC after his retirement. Also, he enjoyed playing with his Tuesday night poker buddies. In fact, only a month ago he and Beverly taught their grandchildren how to play poker although, as always, it was Joe’s Rules. He loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, recitals and graduations from Christine’s softball, Patrick’s baseball and football, Tucker’s football and concerts to Ava’s basketball and volleyball games as well as watching her play the drums. Two days before his passing he watched his beloved USC Gamecocks win against Texas A&M for the first time with his grandson, Tucker.

While Joe’s passing was sudden and unexpected, the week prior Beverly, Ruth Marie and Kevin spent several precious hours with him talking and enjoying each other’s company. Several times during the week he remarked, “If I die today, I’ve lived a good life.” And they were with him at his passing. Joe lived life HIS WAY, right until the end.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Abdalla family.