Joe joined the USAF in Aug 1951 and became a communication specialist. In Jan 1955 he was stationed at AAFB where he met his future wife, Marylin Henderson, also in the USAF as a weather analyst. They married Nov 20, 1955 and just celebrated 68 years together.

They have 3 children, Mike Varnadore – Cathy Varnadore Bennett & James Bennett – David Varnadore. 4 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren & 1 great great grandchild.

Joe graduated from the University of Md in 1961 w/a BA/BS. He had art classes with the famous Jim Henson. He met Carlos Paez Vilaro from Uraguay thru Spanish classes in the Pan American Union where he was painting a mural interconnecting a 170-meter tunnel, the longest mural in the world called “The Roots of Peace”. Joe Varnadore and Pedro Proenza were the 2 art students selected to help complete the mural. Joe went to work for the Naval Photographic Interpretation Center in Suitland Md as an Intelligence Research Specialist. The family moved to Brandywine, Md. Joe became the Scout Master of troop 704.

In 1979 the family moved to North Beach Park and Joe transferred to the Naval facility in Chesapeake Beach. He met Michael Torbert who got the great idea for the Hogettes and invited him to join. For 30 years the group attended all the home Redskins football games and raised several million dollars and donated 100% to children’s hospital. They paid their own expenses. In 1984, Joe transferred to the Army at the Pentagon to be Chief of the Army Space Systems Division on the Army Intelligence Staff and retired in 1990.

A memorial service will be held at the American Legion Post 206, 3330 Chesapeake Beach Blvd, Chesapeake Beach, Md 20732.

Service will be May 18, 12:30 pm.