Joseph F. Mooney Jr.

He was born on February 6, 1929, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in the Boston area, the oldest of five children of Joseph F. Mooney, Sr. and Margaret Clements Mooney. After high school, he joined the Navy in 1944. While stationed at Millington Naval Airbase in Tennessee, he met his future wife, the late Bobbie Spencer Mooney. They were married in 1948. After a year of farming with her parents in Arkansas, he started college at Memphis State University. His education was interrupted when his Air Force reserve unit was called to active duty in the Korean War. He was based in Okinawa, Japan logging 62 missions as an airman. After the war he completed his engineering degree with honors at Mississippi State University. He served as an assistant Chief Engineer of the St. Francis Levee District in Arkansas. He then became the chief engineer of the Mississippi Delta Levee Board in 1964. He held the position until 1991 when he retired and became a consulting engineer. He continued to do consulting engineering into his early 80's.

During his professional tenure, he served four separate terms as chairman of the engineering committee of the Lower Mississippi River Flood Control Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Rivers and Harbors Association, a member the Delta Council, and served as state chairman and district chairman for the Water Resources Congress.

He was awarded the “Outstanding Civilian Service Medal" by the US Department of the Army.

He enjoyed flying, sailing, and gardening. He was an active member of Oakhurst Baptist Church in Clarksdale for many years. He served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and loved singing in the choir. When he and his wife moved to Ridgeland, Mississippi in 2012 they joined Colonial Heights Baptist Church.

Mr. Mooney is survived by his son, Joseph Spencer Mooney and daughter-in-law, Janie, of Brookhaven Mississippi, his daughter Marilyn Mooney Dickerson and son-in-law Jerry, his brother Bill Mooney, sisters Margaret Powers and Editha Murphy, seven grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, parents and his brother, Paul Mooney.

The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on March 26 at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. The service will be preceded by a visitation from 10am to 11am.

Memorial donations may be made in Joe's name to Catch A Dream at www.catchadream.org.