Joseph Irvin Burgess, 90, passed away on April 11, 2012 at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, MD where he had resided since November 2010. Known as Irvin, he was born May 25, 1921 in Deale, MD to Eva E. (Knopp) and Oscar Bennett Burgess. H was raised in Deale and attended Deale Elementary. He was employed as a plumber and enlisted in the US Navy September 19, 1942. He served as a Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class during WWII, earning the American and Pacific Theater Medals and the Victory and Good Conduct Medals. He was discharged December 26, 1945, and married Doris Anita Whittington February 23, 1946. They lived in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. including Lily Ponds, Hillside and District Heights, MD. Irvin was again employed as a plumber at the US Navy Yard in the District and later at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, retiring in 1976. He was a member of the American Legion, Bradburn Memorial Bible Church and Cedar Grove UM Church in Deale, MD. In his leisure time Irvin enjoyed fishing, gardening, and being a plumber and handyman for his friends and neighbors. He was also a part-time grounds employee at Washington National Cemetery in Suitland, MD.

Irvin was preceded in death by his wife Doris on January 31, 1998 and also by brothers Bennett and Richard Burgess. He is survived by two devoted daughters, Lois A. Sellner and husband Kenneth of Bowie, MD and Joan K. Curry and husband Donald of Brandywine, MD.