SOUTH PARIS — Joseph W. Barth passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016 at the age of 99 years, 5 months and one day after a life well lived.

He was born May 9, 1917, the middle of three children, in Murphysboro, Ill.  In January of 1935, Joe left Murphysboro to join the Navy, where he spent the next 20 years. After finishing basic training, he was assigned to the USS Raleigh out of San Diego, Calif. He was later assigned to the USS Augusta, which was assigned to service in the China Fleet and the Philippines. The Augusta was later reassigned to the Atlantic Fleet and participated in the evacuation of civilians during the Spanish Civil War. Joe was then transferred to minesweeping duty out of Boston, where he met his future wife, Doris Tabor. They were married in October of 1943. Their daughter, Barbara Barth Flewelling, was born before he was transferred to the USS Spectacle, a minesweeper on the West Coast, which survived a Kamikaze attack while transiting to the western pacific. After the war, Joe served on recruiting duty in Miami, Fla., where their son Joseph T. Barth was born. Joe’s last assignment before retiring in August 1954 was aboard the USS Edisto, an icebreaker out of Boston.

After retiring from the Navy, the family moved to Ocean Park. Joe worked as a salesman for the Harris Company Ship Chandlers, Kyanize Paint Company and Crook and Crook Marine Hardware. Joe retired in 1972 and he and Doris moved to Homestead, Fla. Joe and Doris moved to the Breakwater Condominium in South Portland in 1990. Doris passed in 2000 and Joe remained at the Breakwater until July of 2014, when he moved to the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris.

He is survived by his two children, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s name to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 45 Main Street, South Paris. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com