Joseph Wilson Carey's Obituary
Joseph Wilson Carey passed peacefully away on December 4, 2016. Joe was born May 25, 1926 in Logansport, IN to Lawrence Daniel (L.D.) Carey and Bess Wilson Carey of Monticello, Indiana. He is a grandson of late Joseph James Carey of Potter County, Pennsylvania, a Civil War veteran who fought at Gettysburg, PA. He graduated from Delphi/Deer Creek Township High School in 1944 where he was a member of the band and orchestra and student manager of the basketball and track teams and was named to the National Honor Society. During his senior year in high school at the age of 17 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and reported for active duty immediately following graduation. During the majority of the time spent in the service, he served in the South Pacific as a signalman in the United States Navy Armed Guard assigned to a Merchant Marine tanker supplying fuel oil to ships at sea. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. Following his discharge from the navy, he attended Indiana University earning a BS degree in business in 1950 and an LLB degree in law in 1955. He was a member of the Beta Theta chapter of the Kappa Sigma social fraternity, for which he served as secretary, and a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1953 and practiced in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, IN for 27 years before joining the legal department of AMAX Coal Company in Indianapolis, IN in 1980. Joe returned to Delphi in January 1991, after winning the election for Circuit Court Judge of Carroll County. Joe would serve as Judge of the Carroll County Circuit Court for fifteen years. Joe was a member of many organizations; BPO Elks No. 143 where completed all the chairs and was a Past Exalted Ruler, Lafayette Lions Club, Deacon at the Central Presbyterian Church, member of the Delphi Rotary Club and the Lafayette Country Club to name a few.Professionally, Joe was a member of the Indiana Judges Association and the Indiana and Carroll County Bar Association’s. Joe was always active in the Republican Party having served as a Precinct Committeeman, a delegate to the Republican State Convention and as a State Chairman of the Indiana Young Republican Federation.He was an avid IU fan and lifetime member of the IU Alumni Assn. He also served as Chairman of the IU Varsity Club of Tippecanoe County-the site of Purdue University! Joe retired on September 30, 2006 and he and his wife Sue began their next adventure together, moving to their home in Ft. Myers, Florida. Joe enjoyed many years of good health, fun activities and wonderful friends in Ft. Myers. He enjoyed volunteering at Lee Memorial and St. Columbkille Catholic Church and breakfast with his friends at Marty’s and Mc Donalds.Joe was preceded in death by his son, David A. Carey. Joe is survived by his wife Suellen J. Carey, daughter Beth Ann (Bert) Cooper, stepson, Kevin (Jennifer) Carrell, step daughter, Leslie (Kirk) Jenkins, grandchildren; Brandon, Nick and Logan Cooper, Jackie Carrell and Beverly Jenkins also his sister–in –law Cleanne (Rich) Sampson, brother-in law, Mark Reynolds and many caring nieces and nephews.A Memorial Service will be held in Delphi, Indiana.Arrangements in Florida were entrusted to Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home with services in Indiana under the direction of Abbott Funeral Home.
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