Joe Anthony Sr

Joe Lee Anthony Sr. was born on July 16th, 1926 to Robert and Colonia Anthony in Walnut Cove, NC. He departed this life on Friday August 14, 2015 at the age of 89. In 1928, he moved with his parents and siblings to Gary, WVa., where he graduated from Gary District High School. Later, he matriculated at the Institute of Virginia and the Fanning Funeral School of Embalming. As a teenager, Joe was baptized and received his valuable spiritual roots at the Bethel Church of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, where he attended with his family. His study of biblical scriptures throughout his life gave him many opportunities to share the wisdom, truth and knowledge of Jesus Christ whom he professed as his Lord and Savior. This inspired him to put these thoughts to paper. Thus the creation of “The Voice of the Universe,” which has yet to be published. In 1946 he married his high school sweetheart, Lena Abbington and out of this union were born daughters, Joanna and Sharon; and sons, Joe Jr. and Mark. Before moving to Columbus, OH in 1950, he worked as a coal miner for several years and a salesman at the local company store in Gary, WVa. He held jobs with Houston Oil and Grace Chemical. On December 17th, 1964 he married Rena Richardson and from that union was born Saundra and Michael. After moving to Columbus, OH he worked several jobs as a brick mason and a cement finisher with union jobs, freelance, and his family Construction Company (Anthony Construction). Joe’s entrepreneurship skills were his lifeline. His creativity and many inventions gave him an opportunity to showcase his marketable skills throughout his lifetime. He was an avid motorcycle sportsman and loved fishing. His greatest talent was his ability at storytelling. He was a dynamic speaker. No one could enhance a storyline like he could and he had a perfect platform for it, White Castle! All young kids and those young at heart loved to hear him and his animations. He had a special place in his heart for his “White Castle Coffee Club” members. He cared for those who were cast as “underdogs” and showed kindness and love to them. He never met a stranger! He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Robert and Colonia Anthony; brothers, Jesse Adell, Robert, Williams and Edward; sisters, Evelyn Miller, Delores Anthony, Thelma Glover and Clara Inell Blair. He leaves to cherish his memory, wife of 50 years, Rena Anthony; daughters, Joanna (Vernon) Mason, Sharon (Aaron Bobby) Johnson and Saundra (Erwin) Moore; sons, Joe Jr., Mark and Michael (Stephanie); A host of grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Molly Hairston of Philadelphia, PA and Juanita (Grady) Springs of Toppings, VA; gold children, Steven Butcher, Jonathan Stevenson, Jennifer Ferguson and special friends who sought him for wisdom and advice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to The OSU Heart and Vascular Program, C/O OSU Wexner Medical Center, P.O. Box 183112, 660 Ackerman Road, Columbus, OH 43218-3112 or online at wexnermedicalcenter.osu.edu/ways-to-give