Albert Joe McDaniel, born February 19, 1930 in Draw, Texas to Albert Riley and Lorena Catherine Humphreys McDaniel, died December 19, 2015 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Joe and his mother moved to Oklahoma after the death of his father and the family settled in Paoli, Oklahoma. Joe attended and graduated from Paoli High Schools. It was there that he met the love of his life, and bride of 65 years, Wanda F. James. Joe served in the US Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. Following discharge, Joe worked in Oklahoma and eventually gained employment with Chicago Bridge and Iron (CBI)/ Praxair as a paint and construction foreman. He was employed by CBI for 37 years, handling assignments across the continental United States, as well as Hawaii, Indonesia and Libya.
During the summer months the McDaniel family traveled extensively, living in a travel trailer as they followed Joe from job site to job site. Through the years, their sons met and played with children from nearly every state in the United States. The family relocated to Momence, Illinois in 1969 to be closer to the CBI headquarters.
Following retirement in 1993, Joe and Wanda returned to their Paoli roots where they lived their retirement dream, building a home and Morton Building on 40 acres of land. Joe was a “tinkerer” and enjoyed spending time in his Morton building. Nothing delighted him more than to fix something up for someone or work with his grandsons in the building that had every kind of tool imaginable. He served in his home church spending time mowing the church yard, working on the parsonage and running the sound board during church services.
Joe is survived by his wife, Wanda F. McDaniel of Huntsville; sons, Michael R. McDaniel and wife Debbie of Huntsville and Brian A. McDaniel and wife Melony of Hurst, Texas. He is also survived by Sherrie McDaniel Hruby and Rebecca McDaniel Perkins, 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, all who will forever remember his practical jokes and quick humor. Joe was predeceased by his parents, his son Joel David McDaniel and his siblings, Faye Jennings, Neva Kitts and Byers McDaniel.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for February 13, 2016 at the First Baptist Church of Paoli, Oklahoma, Rev. John Allen officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to First Baptist Church Paoli, 304 W Davis St, Paoli, OK 73074; First Baptist Church Huntsville, ATTN Television Ministry, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801 or the charity of one’s choice.
