Joseph Stanifer

Joseph Stanifer 89 Harrogate, TN

Joseph Robert Stanifer, 89, of Harrogate, Tennessee died in the Middlesboro Appalachian Regional Hospital in Middlesboro, Kentucky on Wednesday January 28, 2009. Born in Harrogate, Tennessee on April 24, 1919, Mr. Stanifer was a graduate of Powell Valley High School and attended East Oregon State Teacher's College. He served in the Army Air Force, Squadron N 326th Base Unit during WW II attaining the rank of Sergeant. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 17, 1945. He received the American Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Joe married Clara Collino on March 7, 1941 in Bowling Green, Ohio. They were married for 54 years. She preceded him in death on Jan. 16, 1996. Mr. Stanifer was employed by the Dana Corporation in Ecorse, Michigan for more than 32 years. Always active in the Political arena, Mr. Stanifer served 5 terms as a City Councilman for the 3rd and 6th precincts in the city of Monroe. He also served as a County Commissioner for 4 terms. Mr. Stanifer served on the City Planning Commission, Monroe Port Commission and on the former Monroe County Board of Supervisors. He was a member of the Moose Lodge884, Monroe Lodge FOP and the Monroe Elks Lodge. He served as a Union Official with the AFL-CIO, United Papermakers and Paper workers and the United Auto Workers. He served as a Union Officer for over 25 years, holding offices from Bargaining Committee to President. Mr. Stanifer was also a founding member of the Monroe County Community Credit Union. He is survived by daughters, Karen Lambeck and Mary Jo, with whom he has lived for the past 13 years; other survivors include a brother, Cecil of Clinton, Tennessee; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lula (Whitaker) and Leamon Stanifer; sisters, Anna Mae Bryant and Ruth Rodriguez; brothers, James, Carl, Raymond, Leamon and Virgil Ray. Mr. Stanifer has an endowed Scholarship at Lincoln Memorial University to aid Claiborne County High School graduates who are unable to pay for College Education. At Mr. Stanifer's request, there was no visitation and a private graveside was held at the Whitaker-Stanifer Family Cemetery in Harrogate. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Stanifer Scholarship Fund, the Claiborne County Animal Shelter, or the Harrogate Book Station. Funeral services 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2009 at Reece Funeral Home and Valley Chapel with A.D. Reece, III, officiating. Reece Funeral Home / P.O. Box 600 / Harrogate, TN / 37752 / 423 869 3651 or www.reecefh.com.