Joseph Henry Birch

Joseph Henry ‘Joe’ Birch, age 86, of Frenchtown, NJ, passed away on October 23, 2022 surrounded by his family.

Joe was born on July 18,1936 to Henry and Elizabeth (Sullivan) Birch in New York City. He was raised on horse farms in the New York/New Jersey area where he helped his father and earned his nickname “Jockey Joe”. After Joseph graduated from Lambertville High School in 1955, he went on to study Machine Shop at Upper Bucks Technical School. He worked at various shops including Ethyl Corporation, Nolte Corporation, Cincinnati Fabricating and G. J. Oliver in various positions from welder, machinist to supervisor.

SP5, Joseph H Birch, US Army National Guard, of Company C, 2nd Medium Tank Battalion 53d Armor, served 7 years with an honorable discharge in 1960. Joe served as a Tank Driver and qualified .45-caliber sharpshooter, .30-caliber light machine gun 2nd class gunner, and subcaliber-tank 2nd class gunner. He was awarded the Medal of Merit Ribbon in 1959.

In 1956, Joe met Dolores “Dee” Bedford at a car club party. They were married on June 4, 1960. Joe and Dee went on to have 5 children and had a wonderful life together, married for 62 years.

Joe was a devout Christian and family man. He worked hard to support his family with a smile on his face until he retired at age 72. He had a laugh that we will all remember and sorely miss already. He was an avid fisherman and loved to spend time on the Delaware River with family and friends, as well as surf fishing with his son Joe. He was a great mechanic who could fix anything from a lawn mower to a snow mobile. He built drag racing and stock cars as well as go-karts that won races often, even as a teenager. He was funny, a teaser, mischievous and incredibly intelligent. He was a friend to many, and a role model and advisor to all who would listen. His dying wish, no concern for himself, was that all he knew and loved would know the way to heaven.

Joseph was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Elizabeth Birch. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Dolores Irene (Bedford) Birch, his sister Mary (Birch) Boesch and husband Arthur, his 5 children Veronica Birch, Wendy Hewitt and husband Brent, Mary Birch and fiancé Javier Martinez, Joseph Birch Jr. and fiancé Gaye Singley and Bridget Magee and husband Kieran, his 7 grandchildren Coral and husband Louis Martinsen, Hillary, Colton, Makenna and Kielee Hewitt and Aidan and Brynn Magee and his 5 great grandchildren, Louis, Stella and Thomas Martinsen and Nova and Lyrah Spero.

Services will be held in two locations. Locally in Florida, where he passed, at the Seventh Day Adventist church, 17778 103rd Terrace North, Jupiter FL 33478 on Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 4:00 pm. In the springtime, there will be a celebration of life in New Jersey/Pennsylvania where he lived his life on the river. This second service will be held on May 20, 2023 with details to follow at a later date.