Joseph William Elliott, age 84, died at his home in Williamsburg on May 3, 2012.
He was born in Mathews, Va., to the late Ellenora Forrest Elliott and Joseph Edward Elliott. He was educated in Mathews County Public Schools, the United States Maritime Cadet and Marine Officers Training Academy in St. Petersburg, Fla., a satellite of Kings Point, and New York City College of Admiralty Law. He was a veteran of World War II and a survivor of the Murmansk Run. He received his skilled maritime training aboard the "Joseph Conrad," now in Mystic Harbor, Conn.
Joe was employed by Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company as an Ocean Marine Specialist, and retired from Kemper Insurance Company as Boiler and Machinery Underwriting Manager for the Atlantic Division. From 1962-1976, he was the owner and director of Camp Farwell, Newbury, Vermont, the oldest private camp for girls in the nation.
Joe was a long-time resident of Richmond, where he served as Junior Warden, Senior Warden and Director of Youth Fellowship at All Saints Episcopal Church. He was a past member of the Richmond Professional Engineers Club, the Boy Scout Council of Virginia, the American Camp Association, the New England Camp Association, the Morgan Horse Club and Christ Episcopal Church, in Mathews, where he served as Junior Warden.
At his death, he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Tampa Bay Victory Ship Restoration, and a lifetime member of Project Liberty Ship, Baltimore, Md.
Joe’s survivors include his wife of 60 years, Patricia; sons, Jeffery and wife Jeanne, Gregory and wife Christine; daughter, Cathleen and husband Robert; nine grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; a great-granddaughter, and a great-grandson to be born in July. He is also survived by two sisters, Carrie Fair and Theresa Platko; brother, Edward Elliott and wife Carolyn; brother-in-law, Henry Pruitt; former son-in-law, Anthony Sumner, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Mathews, on Friday, May 11, at 11 a.m. with burial in the Christ Church Cemetery.
Nelsen Funeral Home of Williamsburg has been entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars, P.O. Box 8952, Topeka, Kan. 66608.