Joseph P. Alexander

Joseph P. Alexander, husband of Esther V. Alexander, passed away on June 8, 2007. Joseph is survived by his wife, two daughters, Joanne and Janice, three sons, Joseph Jr., John and Jerry, a sister, Diane, and brothers, Patsy, Adolph, John, and Alfred, thirteen grand children and sixteen great grandchildren. Joseph was born in Cokeburg, Pennsylvania on February 3, 1921. He married Esther July 3, 1948. Joseph was currently residing in Lindale, Texas. He was a World War II veteran decorated a multitude of times for his service during the war. Joseph hit the beach in Normandy on D-day and later fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded several times but returned to service both times. Joseph was awarded a Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster. He was among a thousand men who parachuted behind enemy lines to capture a fuel depot supplying fuel to the Tiger Tanks used by the Germans in an assault against the Allied forces. Those men held the fuel depot until they were rescued. Only ten men survived the month long ordeal. Joseph was the highest ranking member of the survivors later dubbed the Ten Originals. As Sergeant of his squad they were the first to enter Buchanwald to release the prisoners of the concentration camp. He was an escaped prisoner of war. Later, his squad was also among the first to enter Germany near the end of the war. After returning home as a hero from the war, Joseph, his parents and his siblings purchased and operated Alexander's Beer Distributor located in Masontown, Pennsylvania. As a coal miner, Joseph was a proud member of the United Mine Workers Union and later became a member of the Teamsters Union. In 1967, he and his family moved to Ohio where he owned and operated a plating business, Ohio Bumper. Later, Joseph became a Religious Counselor where he and his wife rescued hundreds of young adults from Pseudo Religious Cults. He also owned and operated Portage Chrysler Plymouth and was Operations Manager for a trucking company, Systems 99. Joseph will be loved and remembered for his undying devotion to help his fellow man any way that he could. Joseph is a Knight of the Fourth Degree as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is a past President of the Exchange Club and an officer of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a Veteran of Foreign War and a member of American Legion. He is currently a member of Swan Wood Springs United Methodist Church. It is not often that one can meet and get to know such a wonderfully devoted family man who lived his life in service to his country and anyone he could help in whatever challenge presented. He will be missed by his family and all those he touched. May God Bless him and keep him. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM - Monday, June 11, 2007 at the Swan-Wood Springs United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday evening June 10, 2007 at Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home in Lindale.

Joseph P. Alexander

February 3, 2021 - June 8, 2007