He is survived by his wife of 34 years, the former Joyce Williams, his sons, Joseph III (Jessica) of Chicago, IL, Robert (Matt) of Acadia, CA, Matthew (Madeleine) of Orlando, FL, and Bryan (Dion) of New York, NY and his daughter, Megan Barker (Closs) of New Bern. He leaves his namesake grandson and five granddaughters as well as his sister, Anne O'Callahan Rader of Mandeville, LA.
Joe was a native of New Orleans, LA. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps. A lifetime learner and teacher, he received both a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts from the University of New Orleans. He later earned a Master of Human Resources from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.
Joe’s work life included operations and organizational development assignments for Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Lockheed Martin, Walt Disney World, and the Colonial Williamsburg Hospitality Company. He retired from Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Group in Greenville, NC. He is best known locally for developing and operating with his wife, Joyce, Ghosts of New Bern Walking Tours in downtown New Bern.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Saint Paul Catholic Church in New Bern, followed by a reception in the church atrium.
Donations in Joe’s memory may be made to Saint Paul Catholic School, 3007 Country Club Road, New Bern, NC 28562 or to Crystal Coast Hospice, PO Box 640, Newport, NC 28570.
Arrangements are by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory.
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