Robert E. Joy
...Lt. Col. (Ret.) U.S. Army - National Guard, Taunton Silversmith Co.; 82
TEWKSBURY - Lt. Col. (Ret.) Robert E. Joy, Mass. National Guard, age 82, a veteran of theBattle at Normandy, and later a Lt. Col. in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, diedunexpectedly while on vacation in Nice, France, on October 9th. He was the husband of Andree(Icardo) Joy, with whom he would have celebrated a 59th wedding anniversary on Nov. 3rd.
He was born in Boston, Dec. 3, 1921, a son of the late John C. and Ellen (Cull) Joy. He wasraised in Taunton, and had lived the greater part of his life in Taunton, Raynham, Attleboro, andCarver.. He moved to Tewksbury three years ago.
During WWII, he served in the Army Engineers 360th Regiment. He participated in many actionsin France including the Battle of Normandy’s, Utah Beach landing. Upon discharge he enteredthe Massachusetts Army National Guard, and retired in 1981 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He worked as a tool and die cutter and later as plant manager at Taunton Silversmith Company. In his earlier years he was also a tool and die cutter at Reed and Barton Silversmiths.
Active in fraternal affairs, he was Past Commander of both the V.F.W. and the American LegionPosts in Attleboro, A member of the Attleboro D.A.V., a life member of the Military RetiredOfficers Association, a life member of the Taunton-Attleboro Knights of Columbus. He was alsoa longtime member of the Taunton Assembly of the K of C, 4th Degree, and had recentlytransferred to Greater Lowell’s Bishop Delaney Post, K of C, 4th Degree. In the past threeyears, he had been active at the Tewksbury Senior Center, and was a member of the TewksburyGolden Age Club.
Besides his wife, he is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and his wife Patricia(Gnida) Joy of Tewksbury; a brother and sister-in-law, John R. and his wife Pauline Joy of Enola,PA; a brother-in-law, Gordon Baker of Taunton; and two nephews, Shawn Baker of Taunton,Brian Joy of WA; one niece, Jennifer Schlezinger of Falmouth.
He was also brother of the late Shirley Agnes Baker and uncle of the late Timothy Baker.
His Funeral Mass was held Monday, Oct. 18, in St. William’s Church, Tewksbury. Burial with Army Honors was held Tuesday, Oct. 19, in the National Cemetery atCape Cod, Bourne.
Memorials to the G.R.E.C.C. Clinic, E. N. Rogers V.A. Hospital, 200Springs Rd., Bedford, MA 01730 or the Mass. Alzheimer’s Assoc., 36 Cameron Ave.,Cambridge, MA 02140-1102, will be appreciated.