Joseph “Joe” Petro, 98, of Williamsburg, passed away Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, after a short battle with pneumonia. He was born April 5, 1921, the son of George and Susan (Pipa) Petrun.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Barbara; first wife, Eveleen Iman Petro; second wife, Helen Yura Petro; brothers, George, Stephen, Eli and John; and sister, Ann.
He is survived by his children, Joseph Petro, and his wife, Emily Halpin Petro, John Petro, and his wife, Jane Clayton, Judy Buchanan, and her husband, Bruce, Jerry Petro and Carol Ely.; five beloved grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; siblings, Mary, Paul and Robert; and many nieces and nephews.
Joseph grew up in Pennsylvania, and at age 16, he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He served in Pennsylvania, and was later stationed in Arizona, where he was honorably discharged in June 1939.
A few months later, in November 1939, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which was his career for the next 30 years. He served throughout World War II. Joe served on the USS George F. Elliott during the battle of Guadalcanal. During that battle, the ship was hit and sunk, and he was transferred to the USS McCawley, another troop transport. For the next nine months, he was stationed in the jungle on the Russell Islands, after which he returned to the United States.
During his time in the Navy, he was a weapons specialist, a warrant officer and chief warrant officer grades 1, 2, 3 and 4. He learned many life lessons while in the U.S. Navy, things he carried with him for the remainder of his life.
In 1945 while on a bus to Fairbank, he met his first wife, Eveleen Iman, who he married in 1946. Following his career in the U.S. Navy, Joe and Eveleen started their own successful engraving business in Williamsburg.
When not working, Joseph loved to spend time with his family and volunteering at his church, Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church. It was there that he met and married Helen Yura Petro in May 1989. Joseph moved to Norfolk after marrying Helen and returned to Williamsburg in 2016. He was proud of his work with Adopt-a-Highway and received a caring award from them in 1994. Some of his personal interests included travel, stamp collecting, gardening, Tai Chi and attending ship reunions.
Throughout his life, Joseph was known for his commitment and generosity to his family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 5, at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg. A Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 6, at Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church, 114 Palace Lane, Williamsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made in Joe’s name to the Operationsmile.org or Foodforthepoor.org.
Share online condolences with the family at Nelsen Funeral Home.
