JOSEPH EDWARD MAMS, age 87 years, a resident of Elkins, WV departed this life late Saturday afternoon at the Ruby Memorial Hospital at Morgantown, WV due to injuries sustained in a fall.
He was born Wednesday, March 7, 1923 at Adolph, WV a son of the late Frank Mams and Mary Verderber Mams. On August 5, 1950 at Elkins, WV he was married to the former Pauline “Polly” Kisner, who survives. They had celebrated sixty years of marriage. Also surviving are one son, Dr. Frank Lloyd Mams, DDS and wife Robin, Elkins; two daughters, Mary Catherine “Cathy” Orndorff and husband Jeffrey, Morgantown; Edna Frances “Franny” King and husband Karl, Waynesburg, PA; one sister, Evelyn Kilduff, Elkins; six grandchildren, Lori, Sarah, Shannon, Jessica, Joel and Meredith; three great grandchildren, Ashton, Morgan and Caroline; several nieces and nephews and two brother in laws, Lloyd “Dabney“ Kisner and William “Bill“ Kisner, both of Pocahontas County.
Preceding him in death are one brother, Carl Mams; and three sisters, Helen Wolf, Virginia Mams and an infant.
He attended the Saint Brendan Grade School and was a graduate of Elkins High School with the Class of 1940 and had served as Senior Class President and was awarded the Knight of the Golden Horseshoe Award. He attended Davis & Elkins College and Potomac State College, where he played on both football teams. He was a graduate of West Virginia University with the Class of 1947, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U. S. Army as a Sergeant with Battery D., 463rd Anti Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion.
He was a life member of the Elkins Lodge # 1135, B.P.O.E., the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion and the Tygart’s Valley Post # 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the former Jaycees, the American Red Cross and the Knights of Columbus. He taught youth golf was a 4-h Volunteer and was a Sales Representative for Zep Manufacturing for thirty-one years, retiring in 1991. He was an avid golfer and West Virginia University Fan.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 8 PM, Wednesday. On Thursday, August 26, 2010, Mr. Mams will be moved to the Saint Brendan Catholic Church where the Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 Noon. The Very Reverend Donald X. Higgs, VF will be the Presider and interment will follow at the American Legion’s Little Arlington Cemetery at Cravensdale, WV, where the H. W. Daniel’s Post # 29, American Legion and the Tygart’s Valley Post # 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct full military rites. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to Camp Pioneer, in care of WVU Extension Office, 32 Randolph Avenue, Suite 102, Elkins, WV 26241 or to the charity of your choice.
