JOSEPH F. DALEY, JR., age 87, of Hingham and recently of Kansas City, MO, passed away on Friday, March 13th, 2009.
Joe was born on Nov. 24, 1921 in Cohoes, NY. He was the son of the late Joseph and Anna (Minehan) Daley. Joe spent most of his childhood growing up on Mission Hill in Roxbury.
He was educated at Mission Grammar School and was a graduating member of the Mission Hill High School Class of 1940. While living on Mission Hill he met his future wife of 56 years, Ruth O'Connor. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1942 and served in the South Pacific, Palmayra Island and Guam. During this time his wife Ruth, also a Marine, served in Washington, DC. After being honorably discharged in December 1945, Joe and Ruth returned to Mission Hill. They moved to Hingham in 1954. Following Ruth’s death In 2000, Joe moved to Kansas City, MO.
Joe went to work at the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) in 1949. He remained at the MDC until 1986 when he retired as a Supervising Civil Engineer. He and Ruth were founding members of the Resurrection Parish in South Hingham and recently Joe was a parishioner of St. Therese Parish in Parkville, MO.
Joe became involved in Hingham town government and put his engineering ability to work for the town he loved. He was elected to the Planning Board on which he served from 1962 to 1973 and later was elected to the Board of Selectman, where he served from 1973 to 1983.
He was a devoted family man who loved to read. He made many new friends since moving to Kansas City and closely maintained his many friendships from Hingham, Mission Hill and with his Marine Corps "buddies". Joe believed in living life to the fullest and often said he kept moving despite his many handicaps as he remembered his Marine Corps training that taught him it was hard to hit a moving target.
Joe will be sadly missed by those who knew him and enjoyed his quick wit and ability to tell stories of his life and those he loved. Our lives were enriched by his presence, his intellect and blessed by his goodness and unique sense of humor.
He leaves his two daughters; Judith Daley of Marshfield and Jeanne Daley of Kansas City, MO; and his twin grandchildren, Jesse and Shannon Daley of Marshfield.
He was the brother of the late John “Jack” Daley of Pennsylvania.
Funeral Friday, March 20th at 9 AM from the Downing Cottage Funeral Chapel, 21 Pond St., Hingham followed by a Funeral Mass at the Church of the Resurrection, 1057 (Rt. 228), Hingham at 10 AM.
Friends may visit at the Downing Chapel on Thursday evening from 6-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Edward Ball Cole American Legion Post # 120, P.O. Box 72, Hingham, MA 02043
Joe and Ruth were very proud of their years in the Marine Corps and his interment will be with her at the Mass. National Cemetery in Bourne following the mass.