Manuel Diaz

Joe was born February 27, 1919 in Zeising (Spelter), West Virginia, He was the son of Benigo and Maria (Rodriguez) Diaz. Joe had one brother; Joseph, and six sisters; Theresa Nadolski, Josephine Skolik, Bana Robbins, Mae Orsolak, Olga Strizak, and Jovita Lautar. Joe traveled along with his mother, three sisters and his brother, to Meries, Spain at age 2. He and his family returned to the U.S. when he was four years old.. He attended school in Zeising and graduated from Moundsville, West Virginia High School. He enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1941 and served in the Signal Corps at Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri, attaining the rank of Sergeant Major. While stationed there, he met Anna Margaret "Marnie" Winton. Joe and Marnie were married on August 4, 1944 in Monett, Missouri. They had three children; Maria, Daniel and Deborah. After discharge from the service, Joe was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company. Joe transferred with Phillips to Kansas City in 1955 and then to Bartlesville in 1971. Joe retired from Phillips in 1980. Retirement allowed Joe and Marnie to travel extensively including numerous trips to Spain to visit Joe's relatives. Joe was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner clown. He enjoyed many hours entertaining children as a Shriner clown. He was a member of the American Legion and donated many hours to that organization. He was past president of Frank Phillips Men's Club, past president of Shrine, past trustee of Platte Woods United Methodist Church, East Cross United Methodist Church, and board member of Mirror Lake Golf and Country Club. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his son; his brother; and five sisters. He is survived by his daughters and their husbands; Maria and Richard Clampitt and Deborah and Dennis Bowman; three granddaughters, Shawn Russell, Gwen Bowman and her husband Sigudur Erligsson, Marnie Weston and her husband Derrick; one grandson, Mark Quinlan and his wife Tana; four great-granddaughters, Elizabeth Quinlan, Hayden Quinlan, Nilea Erligsson and Eva Erligsson; two great-grandsons, Jackson Quinlan and Thomas Weston; one sister; Jovita Lautar; three sisters-in-law, Maxine Moret, Louise Winton and Alice Diaz; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation Details

Thursday, May 26th, 2011 9:00am - 9:00pm, Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home

Friday, May 27th, 2011 9:00am - 9:00pm, Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home

Service Details

Saturday, May 28th, 2011 10:00am, East Cross United Methodist Church

Interment Details

Memorial Park Cemetery Bartlesville