Joseph Vincent France, 84, passed away on April 13, 2013 at the Manors of Hobe Sound, Florida. He was born on November 25, 1928 in Morristown, NJ to Stephen and Helen (Higgins) France.
Joseph grew up in Morristown, NJ, attended Bailey School and graduated from Morristown High School in 1947. He started his career in banking at the First National Bank where he worked until he joined the United States Army in 1950. He graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School, and was honorably discharged in 1953, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. Returning to banking, he continued to serve in the National Guard while studying at Rutgers University. He moved to southeast Florida in 1979 and retired as Executive Vice President of Professional Savings Bank in Miami. He resided in Eaglewood, Hobe Sound, for the past ten years where he served as Treasurer of the Board of the Homeowners' Association and was an active golfer.
Joseph was happily married to his devoted wife, Mary Phyllis, for 60 years. Raising his family in Indian Lake, Denville, NJ, he developed a love for boating and life near the water. In Hobe Sound, he was a member of St. Christopher Catholic Church, was an avid Detroit Tigers fan, excelled at crossword puzzles and work with numbers, especially budgets. Even when disabled by macular degeneration, he persevered with use of visual aids to follow box scores and justify finances on Quicken. He enjoyed traveling with his beloved wife as well as returning home to his pets, Fritzie and Princess.
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Ida Schultz, Ethel Reid, Elizabeth Weismueller, and Stephen France.
Joseph is survived by his spouse Mary Phyllis of Hobe Sound, FL, their two daughters Theresa Marie Farrell (Neil) of Lake Worth, FL, and Sister Cheryl Ann France, SC, MD, Sister of Charity, of Weston WV, his sisters Helen Blackwell of Pittstown, NJ and Mary Jane Bleidt, of Louisville, KY, his brother Thomas France of Morris Plains, NJ, grandchildren Courtney and Catherine, and great-granddaughter Riley Marie.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 12001 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, FL at 10:00 am Wednesday April 17, 2013. Interment will follow at a later date at South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the donor's charity of choice.