Dec 13, 2020

Joseph “Joe” Harry Vandermark passed away Tuesday, December 8, 2020. He was born November 6, 1947, in Beaver Falls.

He was the eldest of seven children born to Harry and Helen Whiteman Vandermark.

Joe graduated from Smethport Area Joint High School in 1965. Two years later he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was an ensign who served on the USS Durham and was awarded several letters of commendation before he was honorably discharged in March of 1971.

Upon leaving the Navy, he moved to the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania and met Patricia “Patty” Ann Rigo. They were married February 10, 1973, in Marianna, and were together for more than 47 years.

During that five-decade span, Joe was almost in constant motion. He and Patty had two sons, William and Frank. He owned and operated Vandermark’s Service Station on Main Street in Bentleyville for more than 20 years. He also worked for the Bentworth School District in multiple capacities for 23 years before retiring in 2005.

There was no slowing down in retirement as Joe became a grandfather for the first time in 2004. In total, he was “Grampy” to nine grandchildren – seven girls and two boys.

Joe was an avid lover of the outdoors. In his younger years, his vacation time would coincide with the Pennsylvania hunting schedule and later years would find him riding his lawn tractor over an already meticulous lawn.

He had a knack for fixing anything mechanical and fielded numerous phone inquiries from his sons when they weren’t able to get to the house. Sundays would find him asleep in a recliner “watching” that week’s NASCAR race.

Joe enjoyed Westerns of every type, from a Louis L’amour novel to a John Wayne classic. He could also be found with a puzzle book or jigsaw puzzle at the ready.

Joe is survived by his wife Patricia; two sons, William (Teresa) Vandermark and Frank (Angel) Vandermark. He had nine grandchildren, Gage, Kadin and Kiara Vandermark, Brianna Pollick, Parker Vandermark, Elizabeth Pollick, Lilyann, Hailey, and Alora Vandermark. He is also survived by four brothers, Ray (Ruth) Vandermark of Port Allegany, Dennis (Kathy) Vandermark of Lebanon, Gerald (Margaret) Vandermark of Cyclone, Donald (Lu) Vandermark of Farmer’s Valley; and a sister, Rose Soules of Eldred. He had countless nieces and nephews across the United States. He is also survived by a brother-in-law, David (Bob) Rigo of Pittsburgh.

He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Helen Vandermark; a brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Sue Vandermark; a brother-in-law, Dick Soules; his father- and mother-in-law, Frank and Dessie Rigo; and a brother-in-law, Frank Rigo.

Local arrangements by Greenlee’s Bentleyville Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held in Bradford.