Joseph 'Joe' Cavanaugh, popular principal
Joseph "Joe" Charles Cavanaugh, 83, of Lewes, passed away Monday, June 8, 2015, at the Delaware Veterans Home in Milford.
Joe was born in Johnstown, Pa., December 8, 1931. He was one of nine children born to Rita and Thomas James Cavanaugh. After graduating from Nanty Glo High School in 1949, Joe continued his education, receiving his undergraduate degree and masters of Education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, working as a torpedo man during the Korean War traveling around the world. For many years, Joe also served as a popular elementary school principal at Four Corners Elementary and Georgian Forest Elementary in Montgomery County, Md. After retiring, Joe and his wife, Agnes (Gabor), moved to Lewes in 1989.
Even after retirement, Joe enjoyed staying active. He volunteered many years with Meals on Wheels, was a member of American Legion Post 28 in Millsboro, the Cape Henlopen Elks Club, the Shawnee Golf Club and the National Horseshoe Pitching Association. He participated in the Horseshoe Pitching Championship in Maryland and Delaware. If not pitching horseshoes, Joe could be found on the golf course with his golfing buddies.
Agnes and Joe were married for 63 years, and enjoyed traveling together. Some of his favorite adventures were to Ireland, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Hawaii and Alaska. In addition to traveling the world, Joe enjoyed gardening, loved listening to music, especially '50s classics and dancing the Pennsylvania Polka!
Keeping him busy at all times were his six children and nine grandchildren. He was a devoted father and grandfather who enjoyed visits from his family when they traveled to Lewes.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his brother, George Cavanaugh; and his grandson, Shaun Matlock. He is survived by his loving wife, Agnes Cavanaugh of Lewes; six children: Jolene Matlock and her husband Ray of Frederick, Md., Roxanne Beal of Frederick, Patrick Cavanaugh of Denver, Colo., Michael Cavanaugh and his wife Sydel of Gaithersburg, Md., Kevin Cavanaugh and his wife Mary Ann of Mequon, Wisc., and Joseph Cavanaugh and his wife Mandy, of Cumming, Ga.; his grandchildren who called him PapPap are Mandy Greene and her husband Marc, Kaylee and Brooke Beal, Christina, Katie and Jack Cavanaugh and Charlie and Will Cavanaugh.
He was a kind, gentle, loving, humble and caring soul who had the "Irish Gift of Gab" and never met a stranger he didn't call a friend. Throughout the years, there were several special friends that helped Joe in his later years, especially Don.
Friends may visit Monday, June 15, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where military honors will be held at 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, June 16, at 11 a.m., at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be held at a later date at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Delaware Veterans Home, 100 Delaware Veterans Blvd., Milford, DE 19963, or the Gull House, 38149 Terrace Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Please visit Joe's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
