Joseph B. Tirpak, 81

Joseph B. Tirpak, 81, of Gallipolis, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at the VA Medical Center, Chillicothe, Ohio.

He was born December 22, 1934 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, son of the late John and Anna Dudinyak Tirpak. Joe was married to Dorothy L. Fadeley Tirpak and she survives him. He was a retired U.S. Air Force veteran of both Korea and Vietnam. He was a member of Simpson United Methodist Church in Rio Grande. Joe was an avid wood carver and displayed his work for several years at the Bob Evans Farm Festival.

Surviving are his wife of 50 plus years, Dorothy L. Tirpak of Gallipolis; three daughters, Virginia (Michael) Shelton of St. Louis, Missouri, Elaine (Gary) Schimmel of Kelso, Washington, and Anna Walker of Gallipolis; a son, Frank (Josette) Tirpak of Gallipolis; fifteen grandchildren; three great grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Eleanor Fadeley of Patriot; a brother, John Tirpak of Freehold, NJ; and two sisters, Margaret Ribnicki of Elizabeth, NJ and Verna (Joe) Taris of Mahanoy City, PA.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded by three sisters, Mary Cherko, Anna Panko, Helen Milkowich and two brothers, Michael “Pat” Tirpak and Nicholas Tirpak.

Services will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 21, 2016 at the Willis Funeral Home with Pastor Dan Lamphier officiating. Entombment will follow in Ohio Valley Memory Gardens, Chapel of Hope Mausoleum. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2016. There will be military services at the cemetery.

Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences.