Joseph G Irwin Jr

Joseph Gearhart Irwin, Jr. of Lansdale, PA, passed away on Monday, January 22, 2018 at Abington Jefferson Lansdale Hospital following a long struggle with throat cancer. Born in Norristown, PA on January 28, 1928, Joe was 89 years old. He was the eldest son of the late Joseph G. Irwin, Sr. and Ellabell S. Irwin (nee Orr). Joe completed his high school diploma at the Columbia School of Broadcasting before attending Drexel University night school where he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He lived at Brittany Pointe Estates and previously resided in Plymouth Twp for 47 years. In 1945, Joe worked for Western Electric in Atlanta, GA placing cross connection at wire distributing frames in telephone and telegraph central offices and wired distributing frames and placed wiring for outside service wires. He later worked for Allen Wood Steel Co. in Conshohocken, PA. While attending Drexel he was hired by PECO Energy to work in the Research and Testing Division, and later transferred to the System Planning Division after completing his B.S. degree. He became involved in mainframe computer programming where he rewrote and documented the load flow program to handle larger systems. He worked on numerous engineering computer applications; he retired in 1990 from the Information and Technology Division with more than 37 years of service. Joe belonged to the EEI, Computer Forum while employed at PECO Energy and made many long lasting friendships with members from other Electric Utilities around the country. Joe was inducted into the Army Air Force in 1946, worked as a Cryptographer Tech for 4 years and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of Sergeant. During his service he was stationed in Hof, Bavaria, Germany during the Berlin Airlift. He recently became a member of the Berlin Airlift Veterans' Association (BAVA). Joe was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Norristown and later Jarrettown United Methodist Church in Dresher. He was a member of Clan Irwin Association attending many Scottish Highland Games and events for more than 25 years. He is survived by his second wife, Sherrie Irwin (nee, Maple) of 35+ years. Joe was preceded in death by his first wife Irene (Reni) L. Irwin (nee, Mueller) of 30+ years. He is survived by his loving son D. Glenn Irwin and wife Susan Rowan Irwin, his brother, David S. Irwin and sister, Janice Stites and husband John Stites, and his brother-in-law, Werner Mueller & his wife, Elsbeth Mueller from Hof, Germany. Joe is survived by many nieces and nephews in the United States and Germany. He was preceded in death by his brothers Robert McKee Irwin and James Richard Irwin and their wives. Joe's Memorial Service will be held at Jarrettown United Methodist Church on Friday, February 2 at 11:00 A.M., with interment at JUMC Cemetery following the service. Friends may call at 10:30 A.M. before the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jarrettown United Methodist Church , 1460 Limekiln Pike, Dresher, PA 19025, 215-646-4129 or to the Samaritan Fund, Brittany Pointe Estates, 1001 S. Valley Forge Rd, Lansdale, PA 19446, Joe Deininger, Foundation Regional Director , 215-661-0567 , jdeininger@actslife.org .

Arrangements by: Shaeff-Myers Funeral Home, Ambler, PA, 215-646-0595.