COUNCIL #12537 - SACRED HEART REMEMBERS
JOSEPH D STANDEVEN

 

Joseph D. Standeven, 81, of Southport passed away at home on February 8, 2017, surrounded by family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joanne; three sons, David (Diane), Paul (Janet), Andy (Elizabeth) Standeven, and daughter Deborah (Edward) Lee, as well as 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his sister Virginia Dolar of Novato, California, and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, son of Thomas and Pearl Standeven. He attended North Catholic High School and graduated from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia in 1956 with a degree in Electronic Physics.

He began his career with IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York. Joe later accepted a position at Philco Ford’s Communication & Electronics Division in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, where he helped to design microelectronic chips for some of the earliest mainframe computers. Attending night school while working and raising a family, Joe earned a Master of Science in Engineering degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1965.

Joe’s career transitioned to international licensing and sales of Philco-branded large appliances, ultimately becoming President of Philco International. Joe would later accept additional responsibilities as President of WCI International, requiring his family to relocate to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the last 10 years of his career. Joe traveled extensively around the world for his career and was well loved and respected by his colleagues and clients alike for his ethics, honesty and good nature. 

In 2001, Joe and Joanne retired to St. James Plantation at Southport, near the ocean which they both loved. Joe was an avid golfer and bridge player, and also enjoyed softball, bodysurfing and fishing. He was a proud member of the Brunswick Civil War Roundtable, the Knights of Columbus and a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, as well as a volunteer math tutor for middle school students in Brunswick County.

Joe was devoted to his family, his church, his alma mater St. Joe’s, and to numerous charities including Native American causes.