"Papa Joe" Blasingame; "ALWAYS FAITHFUL"
In the Warriors' Watch, we have a tradition that we use to remind us to remain "always faithful" to our own members who pass away. The tradition was begun when Jon D, the WWR State Coordinator of the Illinois Chapter, died on his motorcycle. Jon was much loved by the members of the Southern Illinois chapter, and his passing inspired many memorial efforts. One of those was the opening of Warriors' Watch "Region 7." Region 1 is the Atlantic States, and the Regional Coordinator is Jim Moore of Florida. Region 2 is the central states, regional coordinator John Drake of Illinois, Region 3 (Mountain) is Bob Smith of Illinois, and Region 4 (Pacific) is Harry Rombold, of Philadelphia. Region 6 is open for future expansion, and the Region 7 coordinator is Jon D. Region 7, you see, is a very exclusive place - it's for WWR members who pass away. In creating and maintaining this "region" on our WWR forums, we are remaining faithful to beloved members even when they are gone.
A very recent new member of Region 7 is "Papa" Joe Blasingame of Georgia (An even more recent new member is Gary Stein, and we will devote the next newsletter issue to him, following his services which will be held later this week in Maryland.)
Because I did not "know" Papa Joe as well as his fellow Georgia members did, I am turning the rest of this column over to the Georgia Members. It will have to suffice for me to wish for his friends and family that God grant them some comfort in knowing how loved he was. I asked Gary Hinson to write a biography of Papa Joe the man, the rider, and the patriot. Gary apologized for not being a "writer," but the best writing is writing that comes directly from the heart:
Joe “Papa Joe” Blasingame finished this worldly part of his journey and has begun his new eternal journey with GOD at 12:05am June 18, 2010. Papa Joe was 60.
Papa Joe was our GA Asst. State Coordinator of the Warriors Watch Riders. He was a staunch supporter of our military, and participated in numerous memorial missions, send off's and welcome home missions for our servicemen and women.
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Papa Joe was especially supportive of the Georgia National Guard 121st Bravo Company, based in Covington, during their recent year long deployment to Afghanistan. Joe quietly and selflessly took on the role of patriarch of the "Black Sheep", assisting many of the families while their husbands and fathers were away at war, providing needed repairs to the Bravo Co. armory facility itself, providing a full Thanksgiving dinner last November for the ENTIRE company in Afghanistan. The dinner was shipped to Afghanistan weighing in at around 1300 pounds! Joe did whatever else was needed to provide help on the home front for this unit and their families the list is too numerous to put here and we probably only know of half of them. For his service and commitment, the state of Georgia and the Georgia National Guard presented Papa Joe with the Georgia Commendation Medal in May of this year, the third highest award that can be bestowed on a Georgia serviceman, and rarely awarded to a civilian.
Papa Joe retired from the Conyers, Georgia police and fire departments where he worked for 26 years with numerous awards and commendations. After his time in civil service Joe decided to try the private sector where he worked in several new start companies, he liked a challenge.
Papa Joe never did anything half way. When he went into something he went all in. From raising and showing Australian sheep dogs, where they won best in show, to playing the guitar, he built his own. He had gusto for life that was infectious to be around. As Papa Joe always would say “Make it Big!!!!”
Papa Joe is survived by his wife Carol, sons Christopher, Mark and Jordan, daughter Heather, and granddaughters Lily and Eva. Joe is also survived by thankful community and a group of friends that are richer for having the honor to know him.
Papa Joe, you will be missed.
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Sounds to me like WWR Region 7 just gained one of the best for its own membership. Welcome to "Heaven's Gate," Papa Joe. The Region 7 gain is the nation's loss.
- Lutz
Volume 2, Issue 9, Wednesday, June 30, 2010
