Joseph Henry Morton passed away into the arms of angels in the early morning of January 29, 2024, at the age of 95 from old age.
Joe was born September 9, 1928 to Anna (Hoshowsky) and John J. Morton (nee Martin) in Lock Haven, PA. He was a lifelong resident of Lock Haven and Mill Hall.
In January 1952, Joe deployed to Korea with the 40th Infantry Division and saw combat with the 223rd Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and earned the Korean Service Medal with two campaign stars (for the battles of Sandbag Castle and Heartbreak Ridge). Joe also earned the United Nations Korean Service Medal, the Korean War Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Service Medal and was recently honored by South Korea with the Ambassador for Peace Medal. He earned his Expert Marksmanship Badge in rifle and pistol, ending his service as a Corporal.
After the war, Joe was happily married to Dorothy C. Lewis February 5, 1955, for forty years until her death in 1995.
Joe was an avid deer hunter and loved fishing while enjoying the beauty of his native Pennsylvania. He was Golden Eagle lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, a longtime member of American Legion Post #131, an enthusiastic Civil War history buff, visiting many battlefields with his best buddy Duane Schaffer.
After the war Joe worked at Champion Parts for 25 years, Janet Tire and after retirement he was a groundskeeper at Belle Springs Golf Course in Mill Hall for over 10 years.
Joe was the youngest of five Morton siblings who all predeceased him, Lydia (Miller), John, Margaret (Walsh), and Charles. He was the beloved companion of Lillian Ruhl for over twenty years, and became a part of her family, whom he cherished. He is survived by his beloved adopted Ruhl-Bauman family, Tammy, Terry, Connor, Collin. And niece Margo Meeker (Brett), nephew Matthew Walsh, niece Linda (Styers) Adams, (Peter) and PC. Nephew John Morton (Terri), Juliana (Gift) and Johnny.
Funeral Services will be held at the Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC, 320 Main St., Mill Hall, PA, on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 11:00 am. Family and friends will be received in the funeral home from 10:00am -11:00am, Services at 11:00 burial will be in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Clinton County Veterans Affairs, 217 N. Jay Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745.
Online thoughts and memories can be made at http://www.GedonFuneralHomes.com or the Gedon Funeral Homes Facebook Page.
